Mendelism

Punnett, Reginald Crundall, 1875-1967Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.8

Word count: 265K words
Chapters: 27

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Mendelism by Reginald Crundall PunnettAuthor: Punnett, Reginald Crundall, 1875-1967,Language: English, Class: QH: Science: Natural history, Release Date: May 18, 2009

Editor's review

This is the geneticist Punnett's classic popular introduction to Mendel's theory. Centered on Mendel's laws of inheritance, it uses clear reasoning and examples to explain how traits are passed on. The author was an important early researcher in genetics and writes so that non-specialist readers can follow the argument; the steps of reasoning are laid out in detail and concepts are clearly defined, making this a reliable entry point to the basic framework of classical genetics. It is suitable as supplementary reading in the history of biology, helping readers see where the genetic conclusions in today's textbooks come from. Note that the book was written at an early stage in the development of genetics and does not cover later findings in molecular genetics; readers should understand it in the context of the discipline's history rather than as a complete modern genetics textbook.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Biology students who want to know Mendel's genetics as originally presented
Readers interested in the history of science and the development of genetics
Teachers who need to reinforce basic concepts of classical genetics
Popular-science readers with some ability to read English

Not a good fit for

People who want to learn the latest findings of modern molecular genetics directly
Readers with no biology background at all, who need an introductory textbook first
Readers who expect entertaining storytelling and have little patience for step-by-step argument

Reading tips

Review Mendel's laws of segregation and independent assortment first, then read this book alongside them.
Draw cross diagrams on paper as you read, following the author's steps of reasoning.
After each chapter, summarize the core concepts in your own words to check your understanding.
After finishing, compare with a modern genetics textbook and mark what was developed later.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

How does this book differ from modern genetics textbooks?

The book presents an early interpretation of Mendel's theory, focusing on classical laws of inheritance and methods of reasoning; it does not deal with the molecular structure of genes or modern techniques. Modern textbooks are more complete; this book is best read as a source on the history of the field and the origins of its concepts.

Can someone with no biology background understand it?

The argument is detailed, but it assumes basic genetic concepts. Readers with no background at all should first read an introductory textbook to learn terms such as trait, cross, and dominance before tackling this book.

What does Mendelism in the title mean?

It refers to the theory of inheritance proposed by Mendel—that traits are passed on through hereditary factors according to certain laws. The book introduces the principles, evidence, and inferences of this theory.

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About the author

Punnett, Reginald Crundall, 1875-1967 Author

Reginald Crundall Punnett (1875–1967) was a British geneticist, though public information about the details of his life is limited. Two of his works are held in this collection: Mendelism and Mimicry in Butterflies. These suggest that his writing centred on genetic theory and evolutionary biology—the former introducing Mendelian laws of inheritance and their application to the transmission of traits, the latter discussing the causes and significance of mimicry in butterflies. Both books were written for general readers and beginners, in a clear style with concrete examples, combining experimental observation with theoretical explanation and showing a style that balances popular science with scholarship. Punnett's works had a certain influence in spreading Mendelism and advancing the study of mimicry in the early twentieth century.