The People Behind NEET

Genetics — Laws of Inheritance

Father of Genetics — Pisum sativum experiments (1856–63) gave Law of Dominance, Segregation, Independent Assortment.

Genetics — Chromosomal Theory

Co-proposed Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance (1902) with Boveri — chromosomes carry Mendel's factors.

Genetics — Chromosomal Theory

Independently proposed Chromosomal Theory (1902) using sea-urchin embryos.

Genetics — Sex-linked Inheritance & Linkage

Verified Chromosomal Theory using Drosophila; established linkage; Nobel Prize 1933.

Genetics — Gene Mapping

Created first genetic linkage map (1913) using recombination frequencies (centimorgans).

Genetics — Mutation Theory & Rediscovery

Re-discovered Mendel's laws (1900); proposed Mutation Theory using Oenothera lamarckiana.

Genetics — Rediscovery of Mendel's Laws

Re-discovered Mendel's principles in 1900 working on peas and maize; described cytoplasmic inheritance.

Genetics — Rediscovery of Mendel's Laws

One of three botanists who rediscovered Mendel's work in 1900; contributed to plant breeding.

Genetics — Founded the Field

Coined the term 'genetics' (1905); championed Mendel's laws; co-discovered linkage with Punnett.

Genetics — Punnett Square

Devised the Punnett square (1905); co-discovered linkage with Bateson.

Genetics — X Chromosome

Discovered the 'X body' in insect sperm (1891) — later identified as the X chromosome.

Reproduction — Double Fertilisation

Discovered double fertilisation in angiosperms (1898) — two male gametes fuse, one with egg and one with polar nuclei.

Reproduction — Plant Cell Biology

Pioneer of plant cell biology; described mitosis in plants; coined cytoplasm, nucleoplasm, ploidy.

Human Biology — ABO Blood Groups

Discovered ABO blood-group system (1900) and Rh factor (1937); Nobel Prize 1930.

Molecular Biology — DNA Double Helix

Proposed the double-helix structure of DNA (1953) with antiparallel strands and base-pairing rules. Nobel 1962 with Wilkins.

Molecular Biology — DNA Structure

Produced 'Photograph 51', the X-ray diffraction image that revealed DNA's helical structure.

Genetics — Transformation Experiment

Discovered bacterial transformation (1928) in Streptococcus pneumoniae — first hint of DNA as genetic material.

Genetics — DNA is Genetic Material

Used ³²P (DNA) and ³⁵S (protein) labelling of T2 phages to prove DNA is the hereditary material.

Kinetics & Equilibrium — Arrhenius Equation

Arrhenius equation k = A·e^(−Ea/RT); ionic dissociation theory; Nobel 1903.

Physical Chemistry — Multiple Contributions

First Chemistry Nobel (1901); reaction order; osmotic pressure π = MRT; tetrahedral carbon.

Thermodynamics — Hess's Law

Hess's Law of constant heat summation (1840) — ΔH is path-independent.

Thermodynamics — Free Energy

Gibbs free energy G = H − TS; spontaneity at constant T,p: ΔG < 0.

Thermodynamics — Entropy & Second Law

Coined 'entropy' (1865); second law: entropy of an isolated system never decreases.

Thermodynamics — Statistical Mechanics

Founded statistical mechanics; S = kB·ln W (engraved on tombstone in Vienna).

Thermodynamics — Absolute Temperature

Kelvin temperature scale (1848); alternative second-law statement.

Thermodynamics — Carnot Cycle

Father of thermodynamics; Carnot cycle (1824); η = 1 − Tc/Th.

Electrochemistry & Thermodynamics

Nernst equation for electrode potentials; Third Law of Thermodynamics; Nobel 1920.

Catalysis & Acid-Base

Modern catalyst definition; Ostwald's dilution law for weak electrolytes; Nobel 1909.

General Chemistry — Catalyst & Symbols

Coined 'catalyst' (1835); introduced modern chemical symbols; discovered Ce, Se, Si, Th.

Acid-Base — Proton Theory

Brønsted-Lowry theory (1923) — acid = proton donor, base = proton acceptor.

Acid-Base — Electron Pair Theory

Lewis acid-base theory (1923); Lewis dot structures.

General Chemistry — Periodic Table

First periodic table (1869); predicted gallium, scandium, germanium.

Inorganic Chemistry — Element Discovery

Isolated K, Na, Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba by electrolysis of molten compounds (1807–08).

Industrial Chemistry — Solvay Process

Solvay (ammonia-soda) process (1861) for Na2CO3 from NaCl, NH3, CO2.

Spectroscopy — Element Discovery

Pioneered flame spectroscopy; discovered Cs (1860) and Rb (1861).

Physical Chemistry — Vapour Pressure

Raoult's Law (1887): p_solvent ∝ x_solvent in solution.

Physical Chemistry — Gas Solubility

Henry's Law (1803): gas solubility ∝ partial pressure.

Thermodynamics — Mechanical Equivalent of Heat

Mechanical equivalent of heat (1845); SI unit 'joule' named after him.

Thermodynamics — Free Energy & Conservation

Energy conservation (1847); Helmholtz free energy A = U − TS.

Electrostatics — Coulomb's Law

Coulomb's law (1785) for force between point charges; SI unit of charge.

Electrostatics — Gauss's Law

Gauss's law relating electric flux through closed surface to enclosed charge.

Electromagnetism — Induction & Capacitance

EM induction (1831); concept of field lines; SI unit of capacitance.

Electrochemistry — Battery

Voltaic pile (1800) — first true battery; SI unit 'volt'.

Electromagnetism — Magnetic Effects of Current

Classical electromagnetism; Ampère's circuital law; SI unit ampere.

Electromagnetism — Discovery of EM Link

Discovered electric current produces magnetic field (1820).

Electromagnetism — Lenz's Law

Lenz's law (1834) — induced current opposes the change; consequence of energy conservation.

Electrostatics — Positive & Negative Charge

One-fluid theory of electricity; named '+' and '−' charges; invented lightning rod (1752).

Electromagnetism — Maxwell's Equations

Maxwell's equations (1865) unified E, M and light; predicted EM waves.

Evolution — Natural Selection

Voyage on HMS Beagle (1831–36); 'On the Origin of Species' (1859) proposed evolution by natural selection. Studied Galapagos finches.

Evolution — Natural Selection (co-discoverer)

Worked in Malay archipelago; independently arrived at natural selection. Co-published with Darwin (1858). Father of biogeography.

Evolution — Inheritance of Acquired Characters

Pre-Darwinian theory of evolution: use and disuse of organs leads to inherited changes (giraffe's neck). Now discredited by modern genetics.

Microbiology — Disproved Spontaneous Generation

Swan-neck flask experiments showed pre-existing life is needed for new life — disproved spontaneous generation. Pioneer of germ theory, vaccination.

Evolution — Chemical Origin of Life

Russian biochemist; proposed chemical evolution — life arose from non-living organic molecules in early Earth's reducing atmosphere.

Evolution — Chemical Origin & Population Genetics

British geneticist; independently proposed chemical-origin hypothesis (1929). Founded mathematical population genetics with Fisher and Sewall Wright.

Evolution — Origin of Life Experiment

1953 spark-discharge experiment: CH₄ + NH₃ + H₂ + water vapour at 800 °C with electric discharges produced amino acids — first experimental support for chemical evolution.

Evolution — Embryological Recapitulation

Proposed embryological support for evolution — 'ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny'. Coined ecology, phylum, stem cell. Later refined by von Baer.

Evolution — Comparative Embryology

'Father of comparative embryology'. Showed embryos pass through stages but do NOT replay adult stages of ancestors — refining Haeckel's claim.

Population Genetics — Hardy-Weinberg Principle

British mathematician; jointly with Weinberg (1908) formulated Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium — allele frequencies stay constant in non-evolving populations.

Population Genetics — Hardy-Weinberg Principle

German physician; independently derived the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (1908). Pioneer of twin studies and population genetics.

Evolution — 'Survival of the Fittest'

British philosopher and biologist; coined 'survival of the fittest' (1864) — later adopted by Darwin in later editions of Origin of Species.

Human Physiology — Organ of Corti

Italian anatomist; described the organ of Corti in 1851 — the sensory structure on the basilar membrane of the cochlea that converts sound vibrations into nerve impulses.