50 Years Ago

Outline of Human Genetics. By Prof. L. S. Penrose — Throughout, Prof. Penrose deals with just those points which are of general interest and particularly topics about which people ignorant of genetics are always asking, for example, Is natural selection still operating in spite of civilization and medical advances? ... In “Commentary” he explains in more detail how common chromosomal abnormalities, such as those causing mongolism and intersexes, are produced; mentions theories dealing with the possibility of inherited cancer; touches on pharmacogenetics; and outlines the vast amount of genetic variability which is being shown up by the complicated polymorphisms of the blood proteins. Finally, he makes the very good point that while geneticists are continually worrying about the quality of the human race we shall have doubled our numbers in the next 50 years and that birth control is far more important than the fruitless task of planning the superman.

From Nature 24 August 1963.

100 Years Ago

An exhibit illustrating the damage caused to biscuits sent out in soldered tins for the use of the troops in South Africa—especially during the Boer war—Gibraltar, Malta, Ceylon, &c., has just been placed in the central hall of the British Museum (Natural History), where it will be kept open about a month. The larvae of certain minute moths and beetles were the active agents; and it appears that since these cannot, in all probability, withstand the high temperature to which the biscuits are subjected in baking, the eggs must be laid by the moths during the period when the biscuits are being cooled before tinning.

From Nature 21 August 1913.