Professor Ellis with the prestigious Mendel Memorial Medal
ProfessorNoel Ellis has been awarded a prestigious honour in recognition of his long and distinguished service to the legacy of the ‘Father of Genetics’, Gregor Mendel.
TheMendelMemorialMedal is awarded annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the scientific and cultural legacy of Mendel and genetics.
The Medal is conferred by theMendelianum, part of theMoravian Museum inBrno,dedicated to study of Mendel and his legacy.
The city of Brno in the Czech Republic is where Mendel, an Augustinianfriar, developed the theories which were to become the basis of the science of genetics.
Professor Ellis is a senior affiliated scientist at the John Innes Centre, and an alumnus with a 36-year association with the institute. He has contributed to a body of research in recent years which has cast new light on the extraordinary and visionary career of Mendel.
Since 2015 he has collaborated extensively with Netherlands-based plant geneticist Dr Peter van Dijk on a reappraisal of Mendel’s work, deepening our understanding of Mendel’s Genetics, taking advantage of digital archives which give us a better understanding of Mendel, the man and the scientist, and bringing new analysis to Mendel’s landmark papers, from 1866 and 1870.
These investigations have amounted to a staunch defence of Mendel – refuting the many and diversecriticisms.
Professor Ellis joins a list of distinguished scientists (including Petervan Dijk in 2023) to receive the Mendel Memorial Medal. First awarded in 1992, the award has been given toNobel prize winners, outstanding researchers, and pioneers in genetics.
“I am delighted toreceive this prestigious award.The workthis award recognises isboth biological andhistorical.The medalcelebrates the work ofa truly great scientistwho is an inspiration for future generations.” he said.
The medal ceremony held at the John Innes Centremarked the 160th anniversary ofthecompletion of Mendel’s lectures.
Professor Ellis presented a lecture titled: “Mendel’s lectures in the light of current knowledge”, based on his research, which linkshistorical genetics with modern genetics byidentifying pea genes studied by Mendel and characterising them at the molecular level.”
Dr JiříSekerák the head of theMendalianum said: “Professor Ellis’ contribution to Mendel’s legacy is ofgreat value to the scientific community. We are honoured that he is accepting thisprestitious award on the 160th anniversary of the publication of Mendel’s epochal discovery.”
Professor Daniel Fairbanks of Utah Valley University,visiting the John Innes Centre, delivered a lecture onthe subject of “Mendel’s annotations in Gärtner’s ‘Experiments and Observations on the Production of Hybrids in the Plant Kingdom.’
Dr Jiří Sekerák (centre) and Dr Jiří Mitáč from the Mendelianum visited the John Innes Centre to make the presentation to Professor Ellis.
Professor Ellis presented a lecture following the award
Professor Ellis with the prestigious Mendel Memorial Medal