Gregor Mendel was an Austrian monk born in 1822 and is often referred to as the ‘father of modern genetics’ (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 2013). While not involved in the discovery of the genetic code itself Mendel carried out a series of experiments on pea plants, looking at how breeding different varieties together affected the offspring. Through these experiments and his findings, he laid down the foundation for research into inheritance even though his work was not recognised until after his death in the early 20th century. Another important step in the human discovery of the genetic code came about due to the scientist Rosalind Franklin who carried out a technique called X-ray Crystallography on DNA, which allowed her
