Have you ever wondered why Mendel chose peas to study genetics?
And have you ever wondered about cool things like how traits are passed from parent to child, whether we’re talking about the color of your eyes or the shape of a flower petal?
Gregor Mendel was a 19th-century Austrian monk who is often called the Father of Modern Genetics.
His experiments growing and cross-pollinating pea plants paved the way for the amazing field of genetics we have today.
This peas in a pod keychain is more than just a cute souvenir — it’s a wonderful opportunity to connect hands-on creativity with a key moment in science.
It’s a small, charming symbol of how much we owe to a little garden pea and the curiosity of a 19th-century monk.
Make it even more special by matching the number of peas to those in your family or friend group.
BOOKS ABOUT GENETICS FOR KIDS
Next, look at some of these fun books to include with your study.
4 Books About DNA & Mendel - The Father of Genetics
He was a monk and scientist who studied genetics. He was first to trace characteristics of successive generations.
How do mothers and fathers—whether they are apple trees, sheep, or humans—pass down traits to their children? This question fascinated Gregor Mendel throughout his life. Regarded as the world’s first geneticist, Mendel overcame poverty and obscurity to discover one of the fundamental aspects of genetic science: animals, plants, and people all inherit and pass down traits through the same process, following the same rules. Living the slow-paced, contemplative life of a friar, Gregor Mendel was able to conceive and put into practice his great experiment: growing multiple generations of peas. From observing yellow peas, green peas, smooth peas, and wrinkled peas, Mendel crafted his theory of heredity—years before scientists had any notion of genes.
Earth is full of life! All living things grow—plants, animals, and human beings. The way they grow, whether it be fast or slow, enormous or not so big, helps them survive. But growing is also about change: when people grow, they become more complicated and able to do more things, and they don’t have to think about it, because bodies come with instructions, or DNA. With simple, engaging language and expressive, child-friendly illustrations, Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton, the award-winning creators of Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes and Many: The Diversity of Life on Earth, provide an introduction to genetic code and how it relates to families to make us all both wonderfully unique and wholly connected to every living thing on Earth.
Learn about the secret code that is DNA in this vibrant and informative picture book!There's a secret code inside you, a code called DNA.A code that tells your body's cells what they should do each day. It looks like twisted ladders, or tiny, twirling noodles.It makes us into people, instead of into poodles.Why can't humans breathe underwater? Why are some people tall and others short? Why do we resemble our parents and grandparents? This book explores all this and more in flowing, rhyming text, explaining cells, DNA, and genetics in a way that is simple and easy for children to understand. Colorful and brilliantly illustrated, The Secret Code Inside You illustrates that while DNA may be the blueprint for how a person looks, what you choose to do with your body is entirely up to you!
Father Gregor Mendel, with his great curiosity about nature and his passion of numbers, experimented with plants and wrote down his observations. Although few people knew about his work during his lifetime, the world now recognizes Gregor Mendel as the founder of the science of genetics.
Next, let’s learn why Mendel chose peas.
WHY DID MENDEL CHOOSE PEAS
Mendel chose the garden pea (Pisum sativum) for a few very clever reasons:
Peas have a short growing season- This allowed Mendel to observe numerous generations in a short amount of time, helping him to piece together how traits were inherited across generations.
Peas are easy to grow- Pea plants are hardy and they grow quickly. They do not require a huge amount of space or special conditions, which made them a convenient subject for extensive breeding experiments.
Peas have easily distinguishable traits- Mendel chose seven traits to observe in his experiments — flower color, flower position, seed color, seed shape, pod color, pod shape, and plant height. Each of these traits fell into two distinctly different varieties (such as purple or white flowers), which made it simpler for him to track and compare across generations.
Peas normally self-pollinate-Pea flowers typically pollinate themselves, which meant Mendel could control their breeding when necessary by manually removing the male parts and adding pollen from another plant — a process called cross-pollination.
Peas produce large numbers of offspring- Every pod contains numerous peas (seeds), yielding large sample sizes for each cross. Large sample sizes meant more reliable data and more confidence in his results.
MENDEL’S TWO KEY PRINCIPLES
Using pea plants, Mendel made careful crosses, and he kept detailed notes about which traits appeared in the following generations. His results challenged the popular view of the day that traits blended together. Instead, he demonstrated that traits are inherited as separate, particulate factors — what we now know as genes.
Mendel’s two key principles — the law of segregation and the law of independent assortment — form the basis of classical genetics today.
The Law of Segregation- This means each parent has two copies of a trait (like purple or white flowers), but it only passes on one of those to its baby (seed).
Example- Each parent has 2 socks, a purple and a white, but when it’s time to put a sock into a bag (the seed), it picks just 1 sock. The baby might get a purple or a white — you don’t know which — it’s a bit of a surprise!
The Law of Independent Assortment- This means different traits, like flower color and pea shape, are passed on independently of each other.
Example- Your socks (flower color) and your hat (pea shape) are tossed into separate bags. So choosing a purple sock doesn’t affect which hat you grab — you might grab a smooth hat or a wrinkly hat — it’s all a bit random!
Because of Mendel’s two laws we know…
Each trait is given independently, making for lots of wonderful variation.
Babies get half their traits from their mom and half from their dad.
GENETICS RESOURCES TO CELEBRATE MENDEL
- How To Study Human Anatomy For Science:Build An Edible DNA Model
- Teach Genetics With Jelly Beans with this simple lesson.
- I found this quick read on What is the Difference Between Genetics and Heredity?
PEAS IN A POD KEYCHAIN CRAFT
You will need:
- Polymer clay in a medium green (pod)
- Lighter yellow green(peas)
- Small keychain rings or keychain hooks
- Jewelry wire
- Toothpicks or clay sculpting tool
- Small plastic knife
- Baking sheet (to bake clay)
First, work your clay by kneading it between your hands until it’s soft and pliable.
Break off small, equal-sized balls of the lighter clay, these will be your “peas.” Roll them into smooth, round balls.
Using the darker green clay, roll a small piece into a short tube, about 2-3 inches in length.
Using your thumb, press a groove down the center of the tube to create a shallow “pod.”You can use a roller to get it flat, smooth, and pliable.
Place a length of wire bent in the center at the top of the pea pod.
Gently press your small clay peas into the groove in a row.
Fold the clay pod slightly upward to surround the peas, but leave them visible. Pinch the two points at the end of the pod closed.
Using a toothpick or clay tool, add texture to the pod. Small lines can help it look more realistic.
Bake the clay pod on a parchment-lined sheet according to the clay’s instructions (typically 275°F for 15-30 minutes, depending on thickness).
Once cooled If you wish, you can brush it with a clear acrylic seal to give it a nice finish.
Attach a keychain loop to the metal insert, twisting the wire around and trimming off the ends.
