Question

The term “genetics” was first coined by
A. Morgan
B. William Bateson
C. Johannsen
D. Carl Correns

Answer 1

Hint:The most basic functional and physical units of heredity are known as genes. Hence, the branch of biology that is concerned with the study and variation of genes is known as Genetics. It tries to identify and study the mechanism and inheritance of traits from generation to generation.

Complete answer:
1. Thomas Hunt Morgan was an American biologist who specializes in evolution, genetics and embryology. He was conferred the Nobel Prize in 1933 for his research on the role of chromosomes in heredity.
2. Wilhelm Johannsen was a botanist from Denmark whose work included pharmacy, genetics and physiology of plants. He used the word ‘gene’ in order to describe the Mendelian units of heredity.
3. Carl Erich Correns was a German botanist and geneticist. He is notable primarily for his work on principles of heredity.
4. William Bateson was that English biologist who became the chief populariser of the ideas of Gregor Mendel in the advent of the twentieth century. He is known for introducing and using the term 'genetics' to describe the study of heredity. In his Coupling and Repulsion theory, he used this term ‘genetics’ first in 1905. So, the correct answer is William Bateson was that person who first coined the term ‘genetics’ in study of botany.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘B’.

Note:Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA is a molecule composed of two polynucleotide chains. These chains loop around each other to form a double helix carrying genetic instructions in order to develop, grow and reproduce all known organisms and many viruses. In other words, it is the chemical name for the molecule carrying genetic information.