
Mendel's First Law, also known as the Law of Dominance, is a fundamental concept in genetics that explains the expression of alleles in heterozygous conditions. It was formulated based on observations from the monohybrid cross, where two dissimilar genes (alleles) are present. Mendel's First Law states that when an organism inherits two contrasting genes, the dominant gene will be the one expressed in its phenotype. This principle has been observed in classic examples such as the AB blood group, where both the A and B antigen alleles are expressed together. The Law of Dominance provides insights into the inheritance patterns of traits and has been integral to understanding the behaviour of non-Newtonian fluids, which are modelled using equations such as the Cross Model (1979) and the Carreau-Yasuda Model (1987).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Iron Cross |
| Type | Military medal |
| Origin | Teutonic Order, 13th century |
| Design | Black cross pattée with a white or silver outline |
| Awarded by | The Führer and President of Germany |
| Recipients | Soldiers, unit commanders |
| Prerequisite | Iron Cross First Class |
| Variants | Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds |
| Year Instituted | 1944 |
| Post-WWII Regulations | German Law of Titles, Orders and Honours |
| Replacement | Oak Leaf Cluster |
| Other Cross Medals | Military Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Victoria Cross, George Cross |
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What You'll Learn
- Iron Cross: A military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, later in the German Empire and Third Reich
- Knight's Cross: Instituted on 29 December 1944 as the highest-level medal for distinguished servicemen
- Military Cross: A military decoration awarded to officers of the British Armed Forces and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries
- Distinguished Service Cross: Awarded to those whose actions are above those required for all other US combat decorations
- Replacement Iron Crosses: In 1957, the West German government authorized replacement Iron Crosses with an Oak Leaf Cluster in place of the swastika

Iron Cross: A military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, later in the German Empire and Third Reich
The Iron Cross was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire (1871-1918), and Nazi Germany (1933-1945). It was established by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia on 17 March 1813, during the Napoleonic Wars. The award was backdated to the birthday (10 March) of his late wife, Queen Louise, who was the first person to receive it posthumously. The Iron Cross was a black four-pointed cross with white trim, with arms widening toward the ends, similar to a cross pattée. The design was derived from the insignia of the medieval Teutonic Order, a Catholic religious order founded as a military order around 1190 in Acre, Jerusalem.
The Iron Cross was usually a military decoration, awarded to soldiers during the Wars of Liberation against Napoleon, the Franco-Prussian War (EK 1870), World War I (EK 1914), and World War II (EK 1939). However, there were instances of it being awarded to civilians for performing military functions, such as Hanna Reitsch and Melitta Schenk Gräfin von Stauffenberg, who were civilian test pilots during World War II. The Iron Cross had three grades: Iron Cross 2nd class, Iron Cross 1st class, and Grand Cross of the Iron Cross. The manner in which each grade was worn differed. The Iron Cross 1st class, for example, was worn on the left side of the recipient's uniform, while the Iron Cross 2nd class and the Grand Cross were suspended from different ribbons.
The Iron Cross was an egalitarian award, as it was awarded without regard to rank. This contrasted with the practices of most other German states and many other European monarchies, where military decorations were based on the rank of the recipient. For instance, in Bavaria, officers received various grades of the Kingdom's Military Merit Order, while enlisted men received grades of the Military Merit Cross. Prussia offered other medals that were awarded based on rank, but the Iron Cross was intended to be rank-agnostic.
During World War II, the Nazi regime created its own version of the Iron Cross by superimposing a swastika on the medal. After the war, the wearing of Nazi-era decorations, including the swastika, was banned in Germany. In 1957, the West German government authorized replacement Iron Crosses with a trifoliate Oak Leaf Cluster in place of the swastika, allowing World War II Iron Cross recipients to wear their decorations in a denazified form.
The Iron Cross continues to be used as an emblem by the modern German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, and it appears on armored vehicles and aircraft. A new version in blue and silver was introduced after German reunification for use in contexts other than the military.
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Knight's Cross: Instituted on 29 December 1944 as the highest-level medal for distinguished servicemen
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was instituted on 1 September 1939, at the beginning of the German invasion of Poland, which marked the start of World War II in Europe. It was the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The award was created to replace the older merit and bravery neck medals of the German Empire.
The Knight's Cross was awarded for a wide range of reasons and across all ranks, from senior commanders for skilled leadership in battle to low-ranking soldiers for a single act of valour. Before the introduction of the Oak Leaves in 1940, only 124 members of the Wehrmacht had received the Knight's Cross. The Oak Leaves could be awarded for leadership, distinguished service, or personal gallantry.
In 1941, two higher grades of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves were instituted: the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, and the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds. The final grade, the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, was created at the end of 1944. This grade was to be awarded twelve times only, and Oberstleutnant Hans-Ulrich Rudel was the sole recipient on 29 December 1944.
The legal grounds for this decree were established in 1937 with the German law of Titles, Orders, and Honorary Signs, which made the Führer and President of Germany the only person allowed to bestow orders or honorary signs.
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Military Cross: A military decoration awarded to officers of the British Armed Forces and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries
The Military Cross (MC) is a military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces of any rank, in recognition of "an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land". The MC is the third-level award for all ranks of the British Armed Forces, below the Victoria Cross and the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. The Military Cross was designed by Henry Farnham Burke, with its ribbon created by Victoria Ponsonby, Baroness Sysonby. The design is described in the Medal Yearbook 2015 as:
> Ornamental silver cross with straight arms terminating in broad finials, suspended from a plain suspension bar. Obverse decorated with imperial crowns, with the Royal Cypher in the centre. Reverse is plain.
The Military Cross was first awarded in 1915 to officers and warrant officers, with posthumous awards approved by Queen Elizabeth II in 1979. During the First World War, Acting Captain Francis Wallington of the Royal Field Artillery was the first person to be awarded the MC and three bars. Since 1914, over 52,000 Military Crosses and 3,717 bars have been awarded.
Until 1993, the Military Cross was awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The last Military Cross awards for the Canadian Army were for Korea, while the last Australian and New Zealand Army Military Cross awards were promulgated in 1972 and 1970, respectively, for Vietnam. Since then, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have created their own honours systems and gallantry awards.
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Distinguished Service Cross: Awarded to those whose actions are above those required for all other US combat decorations
The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the United States Army's second-highest military decoration. It is awarded to soldiers who demonstrate extraordinary heroism in combat against an armed enemy. To merit the Distinguished Service Cross, individuals must perform actions that exceed the requirements for all other US combat honours, but do not meet the Medal of Honor criteria.
The Distinguished Service Cross was initially awarded during World War I, with some retroactive awards for pre-World War I conflicts, including the Indian Wars, the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, the Boxer Rebellion, and the Mexican border conflicts. Approximately 62 awards were bestowed after World War I for actions in North Russia and Siberia during the Russian Civil War. Twenty-one African American soldiers from the 370th Infantry Regiment earned the Distinguished Service Cross for their valour in the Meuse-Argonne and Oise-Aisne campaigns.
The Distinguished Service Cross has been awarded multiple times to a few people. Douglas MacArthur, Hanford MacNider, and Harry H. Semmes received two Distinguished Service Crosses in World War I and a third in World War II. A few World War I recipients, including George S. Patton Jr. and Fred L. Walker, earned a second Distinguished Service Cross in World War II. Colonel Arthur Champeny, who was honoured twice during World War I and once during World War II, received his third Distinguished Service Cross in September 1950.
In some instances, the Distinguished Service Cross has been revoked and replaced with a higher honour, such as the Medal of Honor. For example, World War I soldier Alvin York initially received the Distinguished Service Cross, which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor.
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Replacement Iron Crosses: In 1957, the West German government authorized replacement Iron Crosses with an Oak Leaf Cluster in place of the swastika
In the aftermath of World War II, the Iron Cross, a prominent German military decoration, underwent a significant transformation. The original Iron Cross, introduced by Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III in 1813, had been a revered symbol of military valour and had been awarded to soldiers for distinguished service and bravery in combat. However, by the end of the war, the cross had become closely associated with the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime, particularly due to its incorporation of the swastika, a symbol that had been appropriated and tainted by the Nazis.
Recognizing the need to reconcile the traditional military honour of the Iron Cross with the rejection of Nazi symbolism, the West German government, in 1957, authorized the creation of replacement Iron Crosses. These new decorations were designed to honour the original recipients while removing the contentious swastika emblem. The replacement Iron Crosses featured an Oak Leaf Cluster, a traditional German symbol of strength and honour, in place of the swastika.
This initiative was not without controversy. Some argued that the replacement of the swastika was a form of historical revisionism, attempting to erase the dark chapters of Germany's past. Others, especially veterans who had proudly worn the Iron Cross during the war, felt that the new design diminished the significance and emotional connection they had with the original award. Despite these objections, the West German government maintained that the replacement Iron Crosses were a necessary step in the country's journey of denazification and reintegration into the global community.
The production and distribution of the replacement Iron Crosses were carefully managed. Authorized manufacturers were tasked with creating the new decorations, ensuring that they adhered to specific design specifications. Veterans who had earned the Iron Cross during World War II could apply for the replacement award, providing documentation and proof of their original receipt of the honour. The process was respectful and solemn, acknowledging the valour and sacrifice of the recipients while also symbolizing Germany's commitment to a peaceful and democratic future.
The replacement Iron Crosses served as a physical manifestation of Germany's complex relationship with its past. On the one hand, they honoured the bravery and sacrifice of German soldiers, upholding a long military tradition. On the other hand, they represented a conscious effort to distance the country from the horrors of the Nazi era and to embrace a new national identity founded on democratic values and international cooperation. This initiative was a pivotal step in Germany's ongoing reconciliation process, reflecting a desire to remember, learn from, and move forward from a tumultuous historical chapter.
The authorization of replacement Iron Crosses in 1957 was a significant step in Germany's post-war evolution, enabling the country to acknowledge and honour its military traditions while decisively rejecting the toxic ideology of Nazism. The Oak Leaf Cluster replaced the swastika, symbolizing a new beginning and a commitment to a peaceful and democratic future. This initiative continues to shape how Germany remembers, honours, and learns from its past, serving as a constant reminder of the importance of vigilance in upholding democratic values and human rights.
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Frequently asked questions
Mendel's first law is the Law of Dominance. This law states that characters are controlled by discrete units called factors (genes) that occur in pairs. In a heterozygous condition, where two dissimilar genes (alleles) are present, the dominant gene will express itself.
A classic example of Mendel's First Law is the AB blood group, where the alleles for A and B antigens express themselves together.
The First Law is a series of gritty modern fantasy novels by British author Joe Abercrombie. The law refers to a rule established by the half-demon, half-human Euz: "It is forbidden to touch the Other Side directly."
The First Law series is set in an epic fantasy world called the Circle of the World, reminiscent of early modern Europe. The world once had magic, but it now seems to be fading, and war is constant.
Yes, in addition to the original trilogy, there are several stand-alone novels set in the world of The First Law, including Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country.










































