Gregor Mendel is known for discovering the laws of inheritance. An Austrian monk, Mendel conducted pioneering experiments on pea plants in the mid-19th century, establishing the foundational principles of genetics. His work revealed how traits are inherited across generations through dominant and recessive alleles, laying the groundwork for modern genetics. Although Mendel's findings were largely overlooked during his lifetime, they were rediscovered in the early 20th century, leading to a revolution in biology and greatly enhancing our understanding of hereditary processes. His contributions are now celebrated as key milestones in the study of genetics.