100 Years of poultry genetics

Abstract

The beginning of the 21st century is an appropriate time to review a century of poultry genetics, because it is one hundred years since Mendel's pioneering work was rediscovered and became part of the mainstream of science. Although, in my opinion, Mendel enjoyed more than a fair share of luck in reaching his conclusions, he nevertheless laid a foundation on which students of poultry, and many other species, were able to build a vast body of literature. Mendel's choice of the height of pea plants, in retrospect, was not a wise one. Here is a trait that is basically quantitative, and yet he was able to describe it, and reach his conclusions, in qualitative terms!