OKLAHOMA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 27 



"The ratio of 3 to 1, in accordance with which the distribu- 

 tion of the dominant and recessive characters results in the first 

 generation, resolves itself therefore in all experiments into the 

 ratio of 2:1:1 if the dominant character be differentiated accord- 

 ing to its significance as a hybrid-character or as a parental one. 

 Since the members of the first generation (F^) spring directly 

 from the seed of the hybrids (F^) it is now clear that the hybrids 

 form seeds having one or other of the tv/o differentiating char- 

 acters, and of these one-half develop again the hybrid form, while 

 the other half yield plants which remain constant and receive the 

 dominant or the recessive characters (respectively) in equal num- 

 bers." 



If we seek to apply the Mendelian principles to human inheri- 

 tance, as is done by modern eugenists, the knowledge of the stock 

 from which a man comes assumes importance. In the case of 

 Mendel himself we would be glad to know how the traits whicli 

 characterize him, and which of course enabled him to achieve so 

 largely in the scientific realm, may have appeared among his pro- 

 genitors. He was born July 22, 1822 at Heinzendorf, in Austrian 

 Silesia. His father was a small peasant proprietor. The family 

 name Mendel, or Mandel as it is frequently written, appears in the 

 church register in the 17th century. Tlie suggestion that the name 

 suggests Jewish origin is probably incorrect since it can be traced 

 back of the time when the Jews in Austria assumed definite sur- 

 names. Owing to the fortunes of war the Kuhland district in 

 which Heinzendorf is located was at one time protestant, and 

 among Mendel's ancestors were several of that faith. His four 

 grandparents were all of local Heinzendorf stock; that is members 

 of a German colony which was surrounded by Slavonic population. 

 We are indebted to Bateson for the collection of many facts re- 

 garding his life. Of him Bateson says : 



"It is recorded of his father that he took special interest in 

 fruit-culture, initiating his son at an early age into the methods of 

 grafting. Mendel's maternal uncle, Anton Schwirtlich, was evi- 

 dently a man of intellectual tastes, which is shown by the fact that 

 he started private classes for the children of Heinzendorf who 

 could not v/alk so far as the neighboring village, for in Heinzendorf 

 itself there was at that time no regular school. Mendel was thus 

 able to say with some pride that he came from an educational 

 family. 



"On the death of Schwirtlich a government school was estab- 

 lished which Mendel attended as a young boy. His talent was 

 noticed and encouraged by the master. At this time also two 



