Century-old genetics mystery of Mendel’s peas finally solved

3 min read Original article ↗
  • NEWS

Researchers pinpoint the genes responsible for the final three pea traits studied by the famed citizen scientist.

The Augustinian friar Gregor Mendel completed his groundbreaking work on genetic inheritance more than 160 years ago, after carefully studying seven traits in peas, including the shape and colour of their seeds and pods. Yet until now, scientists still hadn’t worked out which genes drive three of those traits in the garden pea (Pisum sativum).

Access options

Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals

Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription

$32.99 / 30 days

cancel any time

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.90 per issue

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Nature 641, 20 (2025)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-01269-8

References

  1. Fong, C. et al. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08891-6 (2025).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Kreplak, J. et al. Nature Genet. 51, 1411–1422 (2019).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Rogers, H., Dora, M., Tsolakis, N. & Kumar, M. Appl. Food Res. 4, 100440 (2024).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Subjects

Latest on: