The basic foundation for the science of genetics was laid down by Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, in the mid-19th century.

Here's why:

* Pea Plant Experiments: Mendel conducted extensive experiments on pea plants, meticulously studying how traits were passed from one generation to the next.

* Laws of Inheritance: From his experiments, he derived the fundamental laws of inheritance: the Law of Segregation and the Law of Independent Assortment. These laws explain how genes are transmitted from parents to offspring.

* Dominant and Recessive Traits: Mendel identified that traits could be dominant or recessive, explaining why some traits appear in offspring while others do not.

While other scientists made important contributions to the field before and after Mendel, his work laid the groundwork for modern genetics. He is often called the "Father of Genetics" because his groundbreaking research established the basic principles of inheritance, which continue to be fundamental to the study of genetics today.