I remember reading the chapter about Gregory Mendel and how he did not have too much success in life at first. Scientists even thought he suffered from extreme test anxiety because he failed to become certified as a teacher. Though he had his share of failures, he eventually became one of the most innovative figures in science as we know. Mendel conducted his own experiences with pea plants and established that certain traits were passed on from generation to generation. Thus, Mendel posed the first questions that gave rise to the science of inherited traits.
While Mendel's story is an inspiring one, how many are destined to follow in his path? Is it safe to have any average citizen take it upon himself to conduct scientific experiments just because people like Mendel have? There is no doubt that Mendel had an extraordinary mind even if other personal issues kept him from advancing to further careers. What if Mendel is the exception and not the rule? Are all destined to succeed like him or must we accept that not all possess the same intellect as Mendel, and therefore, might not succeed in their experiments?
You pose some very interesting questions! Exception versus rule is something I didn't think about until you said it. Yes, Mendel was an extraordinary individual but he had the education to back him up. He wasn't just some random person trying to 'discover' genetics. He is the exception. He was well educated and had the experience just not the credentials. I don't think it's safe for random people to start up their own labs, I believe they need some prior knowledge about what they are working with, Great post! You really had some great questions!
ReplyDelete^ I agree with Courtney. Mendel was pretty educated by the time he discovered recessive and dominant genes in his pea plants. To what extent he was looking for this end piques my own curiosity but I honestly believe there were many 19th Century "scientists" that practiced the stuff as a hobby, like many tinkerers today. I think a lot of science today may be to well advanced for the average person just to try and pick up but I am always a fan of educating yourself in areas you just don't know enough about (and not in the home! lol) I think Mendel is neither the exception or rule, but similar to many of the bio hackers in the book who have spent years working in labs or educating themselves on the subject for a reason.
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