mendel's law: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowAcademic/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “mendel's law” mean?
The fundamental principles of inheritance discovered by Gregor Mendel, describing how traits are passed from parents to offspring through discrete units (genes).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The fundamental principles of inheritance discovered by Gregor Mendel, describing how traits are passed from parents to offspring through discrete units (genes).
In modern genetics, these laws (principle of segregation and principle of independent assortment) form the foundation of classical genetics, explaining patterns of inheritance for single traits and multiple traits across generations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage between UK and US English. Both follow the same scientific conventions.
Connotations
Technical, historical, foundational in genetics.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, confined to biological/educational contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “mendel's law” in a Sentence
Mendel's law + of + [specific principle]according to + Mendel's lawin accordance with + Mendel's lawVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mendel's law” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The traits mendelise according to predictable patterns.
- These characteristics don't mendelise in the expected way.
American English
- The traits mendelize in predictable ratios.
- Some traits fail to mendelize properly.
adverb
British English
- The genes segregated Mendelically.
- It was inherited Mendelically.
American English
- The traits were inherited Mendelically.
- Segregation occurred Mendelically.
adjective
British English
- Mendelian ratios show 3:1 patterns.
- This is a classic Mendelian trait.
American English
- Mendelian ratios demonstrate inheritance patterns.
- That's a purely Mendelian characteristic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in business contexts.
Academic
Core terminology in genetics courses and biological research papers.
Everyday
Rarely used outside educational settings.
Technical
Essential concept in genetics, plant breeding, and medical genetics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mendel's law”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mendel's law”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mendel's law”
- Using singular 'law' when referring to multiple principles
- Misspelling as 'Mendal's law'
- Confusing with Darwin's laws of evolution
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
There are two main laws: the Law of Segregation and the Law of Independent Assortment. Some textbooks include the Law of Dominance as a third principle.
Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, discovered these principles through his experiments with pea plants in the 1860s.
Mendel's laws describe basic inheritance patterns but have exceptions, such as linked genes, mitochondrial inheritance, and epigenetic factors that don't follow strict Mendelian ratios.
It established the foundation of modern genetics, providing the first mathematical framework for understanding how traits are inherited, which revolutionized biology and agriculture.
The fundamental principles of inheritance discovered by Gregor Mendel, describing how traits are passed from parents to offspring through discrete units (genes).
Mendel's law is usually academic/scientific in register.
Mendel's law: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɛndəlz lɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɛndəlz lɔ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As predictable as Mendel's law”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MENDEL: My Experiments Naturally Demonstrate Every Law (of inheritance).
Conceptual Metaphor
INHERITANCE IS A SET OF RULES
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is NOT one of Mendel's laws?