Gregor Mendel made important discoveries in genetics that changed how we think about evolution. By studying pea plants, he conducted experiments that helped explain how traits are passed down from parents to their offspring. His work laid the ground for understanding genetic differences in groups of living things.

Key Contributions of Mendel:

1. Mendelian Laws:

   • Law of Segregation: This law says that when plants make eggs and sperm, the gene pairs split up. That means the young plants get one gene from each parent.
   • Law of Independent Assortment: This law explains that different traits are passed down separately from each other.

2. Quantitative Analysis:

   • Mendel noticed patterns in how traits showed up, like the 3:1 ratio he found in traits of the second generation from a specific cross.
   • He kept track of numbers that showed how traits were handed down through generations, helping scientists understand groups of plants and animals better.

How His Work Fits with Evolutionary Theory:

• Natural Selection: Mendel's findings gave a genetic reason for differences between living things. This information was important for Charles Darwin's idea of natural selection, which is about how some traits can help living things survive. Together, Mendel's genetics and Darwin's ideas helped form what we know today about evolution.

• Genetic Variation: By figuring out how traits are passed down, Mendel helped explain how living things can change over time. This idea supports how species adapt and develop into new forms.

Overall, Mendel's discoveries are crucial for linking how heredity works with the concept of evolution. They show just how important genetics is for understanding the variety of life around us.