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A tour of his abbey and garden David B. Fankhauser, Ph.D. Professor of Biology and Chemistry U.C. Clermont College Batavia OH 45103 |
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Mendel was a monk and then abbot |
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foundation of his greenhouse |
During a sabbatical project in Germany in 2006, I made a
"pilgrimage"
to the Abbey in Brno, Czech Republic where Gregor Mendel conducted
his
plant breeding experiments which laid the foundation for our
understanding
for how traits are handed down from parents to offspring. These
are some
of the pictures of the Augustinian Abbey and the garden and green
house
in which Mendel worked.
Click here for more
images of Brno, the Czeck Republic.
Here is an article in the Smithsonian Magazine which quotes me regarding this "pilgrimage" to Mendel's Abby in Brno, Czech Republic.
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The Augustinian Monastery where Gregor Mendel performed
his experiments
lies on the southwest portion of Old Brno. It was at this
abbey where he
was first a monk, and then became its abbott.
The first view shows the abbey from a portal across the plaza in front of the abbey. The next shows the church and the monk residency at an angle across the plaza. The third, across a busy intersection, is of the church and a neighboring ornate building The last shows the interesting roof line and towers of the church. |
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Here on the grounds of the abbey is the location of
Mendel's garden
and his green house.
His breeding experiments with peas (Pisum sativum revolutionized our understanding of how traits are inherited. The first image shows the grounds of the abbey where he
breed his peas.
The foundation
The next image, I am sitting on the edge of the
greenhouse foundation,
eating my (very)
The last image shows the plans that Mendel requested for his greenhouse |
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The picture at the left is Mendel's workshop in which he
performed
his bench studies. It fell into disrepair during the
communist era,
and has been torn down.
The picture at the right shows Mendel's microscope which is preserved in the Mendelinium, a museum dedicated to him and his work (note the cute protective hat.) |
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Mendel had many other interests besides breeding peas:
R: He kept detailed records of meteorological data for years, three years data are shown. Center: He was an avid bee keeper, and designed an apiary. The Abbey still keeps bees. L: The tall building just beyond his garden was the abbey's brewery. Czech beer is world famous. Pilsner is their invention. The well in the foreground is apparently famous--but who can tell me for what? |
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L: A statue of Mendel watches over his garden.
R: A photograph of Mendel is housed in the Mendelinium. |