24 Apr 2023

Johann Gregor Mendel inspires − the basis of success is an idea

The author of the final part of our podcast serie is the Dean of the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University, Professor Tomáš Kašparovský. He talks about why Mendel is inspiring for him personally, as a scientist and educator, and about pushing the boundaries of knowledge and science.

1 Mar 2023

Mendel, a passionate beekeeper

In addition to his genetic research, Johann Gregor Mendel also devoted himself to the care of bees. His father, Anton, who had an apiary in Hynčice, first introduced him to beekeeping, and this soon became his hobby; however, first he had to find a suitable place for breeding these hard-working insects. He found the ideal conditions for building an apiary in the garden of Brno Abbey.

5 Dec 2022

Gregor Johann Mendel Meteorologist

Even though Johan Gregor Mendel achieved the greatest fame in genetics, his merits in the field of meteorology cannot be overlooked either. He did not only measure the air temperature, but also the amount of precipitation, air pressure, and the amount of ozone, he also carried out phenological observations, observed the number of sunspots and measured the height of the groundwater level in the grounds of the monastery on Mendel Square. He also described the occurrence of a tornado in the vicinity of Brno.

10 Nov 2022

Mendel and the Legacy of Protestant Schools

Gregor Johann Mendel as an Augustinian abbot is clearly associated with the Catholic confession. It is forgotten that, like František Palacký, for example, he came from the Enlightenment environment created by the Brno evangelicals on the Kunín estate, and was in contact with this environment for a long time, actually also through his predecessor, the liberal abbot Cyril Franz Napp.

3 Oct 2022

G. J. Mendel and his low resistance to stress

Several times in Mendel’s life, his low resistance to stress became apparent. According to documents, he struggled with certain mental problems from a young age during his high school studies. He writes in his biography that he got into a deplorable position when he had to take care of himself on his own, but that he managed to earn at least enough by private tuition that he could “live in misery”.

29 Sep 2022

Genetic conference of the Gregor Mendel Genetic Society (GMGS) will be held this year under the auspices of the Dean of Masaryk University’s Faculty of Science

The Gregor Mendel Genetic Society (hereafter GMGS), which brings together scientific research and teaching staff from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, is organising a genetics conference on the 5-7th October 2022 at Slavkov castle near Brno.

5 Sep 2022

G. J. Mendel: modest, patient and principled

Although Mendel suffered from a protracted and painful illness, he rarely complained in the last days of his life. In one of his last letters, 18 days before his death, he wrote to his personal friend, the meteorologist prof. J. Líznar that he is so ill that he can no longer even read meteorological instruments without the help of others, and says goodbye to his friend with a light sense of humor: "Since we hardly ever meet in this area, I would like to offer you a hearty Be well!" and call upon your head all the blessings of the meteorological deities.”

21 Jul 2022

Thanks to Mendel, Brno is a Mecca for geneticists

A visit to the Augustinian Abbey in Old Brno, where Johan Gregor Mendel, the founder of genetics, lived and worked, is the same as visiting Mecca for world-renowned scientists in the field of genetics and related fields. Nobel Prize laureates and other scientists who came to Brno for the major international Mendel Genetics Conference agreed. The conference is taking place in Brno from 20 to 23 July and is the culmination of the bicentenary celebrations of Mendel's birth.

20 Jul 2022

G. J. Mendel: generous, charitable, selfless

Mendel loved his family very much and was grateful to them. His warm emotional relationship with his family, and especially his mother, can be seen in the surviving letters he wrote home from Brno or Vienna. He addresses his parents as ‘Dearest Parents’ or ‘Beloved Parents’, and his mother and sister as ‘Dearest Mother, Dearest Sister’. In the letters, he is interested in how people in the family are doing and often mentions concern for the health of his loved ones.

20 Jun 2022

A scientific approach to solving the question of ‘what is inherited and how’. Experiments with peas

When Mendel planned his experiments with peas, he first studied the conclusions of his predecessors, who had undertaken similar experiments with plant crosses. He was aware that this would be a difficult task.

The fate of man, according to G. J. Mendel

Do you know that G. J. Mendel also wrote poetry? In the poem you will read in the 3rd episode of the podcast Mendel, The Man, you will find his life's credo that it is man's destiny to strive for high goals and to use all his abilities to achieve them. Enjoy the science by listening!

16 May 2022

G. J. Mendel: inquisitive, talented and ambitious

Welcome to the second part of our series Mendel, the Man, presenting a personal portrait of the “father of genetics”. Enjoy the podcast with the title G. J. Mendel: inquisitive, talented and ambitious.

2 May 2022

What kind of person was Gregor Johann Mendel?

Welcome to our series of articles Mendel, the Man. The Faculty of Science of Masaryk University wants to contribute to the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Gregor Johann Mendel, which we commemorate in 2022.

12 Apr 2022

International Pea Cook Book

Peas are not only a plant on which the foundations of heredity were discovered but also a tasty crop. And as the saying goes, love passes through the stomach. We have many nationalities at the University, and each cuisine has something specific. What do you cook with peas?

Grow a pea like Mendel

In 2022, we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Gregor Johann Mendel, known worldwide as the Father of Genetics. He discovered the basics of heredity while growing peas in the Abbey of Old Brno.