Who introduced the principle of inheritance?

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

Gregor Mendel is correctly identified as the founder of the modern science of genetics.
Through his experiments with pea plants, he discovered the fundamental principles of inheritance.
He identified hereditary units he called 'factors' (now known as genes) and described how they are passed down through generations.
His work established the Laws of Inheritance, including the Law of Segregation and the Law of Independent Assortment, which form the basis of genetics.

Option A: William Harvey's work was in physiology, not genetics. He is famous for describing the circulation of blood in the body.
Option B: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek is known as the 'Father of Microbiology'. His major contribution was the development of the microscope and the first observation of microorganisms.
Option D: Robert Brown was a botanist who made significant discoveries in cell theory, most notably the discovery of the cell nucleus.

Visual 1: Diagram: Gregor Mendel's pea plant experiment, illustrating the crossing of purebred plants and the resulting dominant and recessive traits in the F1 and F2 generations.
Visual 2: Table: A comparative chart of major scientists in biology (Mendel, Harvey, Leeuwenhoek, Brown, Pasteur, Koch) and their primary contributions, fields, and approximate time periods.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain History of Science: Pioneers in Biology as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the principles of inheritance is foundational for nurses in specialties like genetic counseling, obstetrics, and oncology.
Nurses use knowledge of genetics to educate patients about hereditary diseases (e.g., cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, Huntington's disease) and their patterns of transmission.
The field of pharmacogenomics, which studies how genes affect a person's response to drugs, is directly based on the principles of inheritance and is crucial for safe medication administration.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question testing knowledge of major figures in the history of science.
First, identify the key concept in the question stem: 'principle of inheritance'.
Next, scan the options, which are all names of historical scientists.
Mentally connect the key concept (inheritance/genetics) with the scientist most famously associated with it.
Recall or deduce that Gregor Mendel's experiments with pea plants established the foundation of genetics.
Eliminate the other scientists based on their known contributions: Harvey (blood circulation), Leeuwenhoek (microbiology), and Brown (cell nucleus).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.