Gregor Mendel's discoveries laid the foundation for genetics through his pioneering experiments on pea plants. By studying inheritance patterns, he introduced concepts such as dominant and recessive traits, as well as the principle of segregation. Mendel's meticulous observation and documentation of the traits allowed him to formulate the laws of heredity in the mid-19th century. Though initially overlooked, his work was later recognized as pivotal in understanding genetic inheritance, influencing the future of biology and genetics, setting the stage for modern genetic research and the study of DNA.