A History of Genetics in the 20th Century

After a brief survey of pre-twentieth-century theories of heredity, this course examines the work of Gregor Mendel and its rediscovery in 1900, and its expansion as an inter-field theory in combination with the chromosome theory, pioneered beginning in 1910 by T.H. Morgan at Columbia University and R.A. Emerson at Cornell University, and leading to the expansion of classical genetics up to World War II. The beginnings of biochemical and molecular genetics in the 1920s and 1930s developed rapidly after the war with the double-helix theory of DNA and the rise of molecular genetics. The course ends with examination of genetic biotechnology. The course emphasizes not only the technical and theoretical developments but also on the economic, social, political and philosophical interconnections between genetics and society. Agriculture, medicine and the ideology of social control (including such movements as eugenics and Nazi race hygiene) influenced and were influenced by genetics. Readings reference the primary and secondary literature. Grading is based on class attendance, participation, and 4-6 short essays covering weekly class discussions. Prereq: Bio 2960 and Bio 2970.
Course Attributes: FA NSM; AS NSM; AS WI I

A History of Genetics in the 20th Century

BIOLOGY AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES 3183

Section 01