The scientist recognized for laying the foundations of modern genetics with his laws of inheritance is Gregor Mendel. In the mid-19th century, Mendel conducted experiments on pea plants, establishing the basic principles of heredity. His observations led to the formulation of the laws of segregation and independent assortment, which describe how traits are passed from one generation to the next. Although his work went largely unrecognized during his lifetime, Mendel's contributions are now considered fundamental to the field of genetics, earning him the title "father of genetics."