Barbara McClintock significantly contributed to genetics through her discovery of jumping genes, or transposable elements. Her pioneering research in maize (corn) demonstrated how certain genes can change positions on a chromosome, influencing inheritance patterns. McClintock’s work on gene regulation and chromosomal behavior laid the foundation for modern genetic science, although it went largely unrecognized during her time. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1983, highlighting her groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of genetics and heredity.