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T. H. Morgan's resistance to the chromosome theory

Nature Reviews Genetics volume 2, pages 469–474 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

The history of science often emphasizes the great discoveries, but neglects to mention that many aspects of these discoveries were frequently known in advance. Such was the case for the chromosome theory of inheritance. Although the behaviour of the chromosome in fertilization and cell development was known before Thomas Hunt Morgan's work, its role in the inheritance of particulate traits was not appreciated. Morgan's relationship with the chromosome theory of inheritance provides a good case study to illustrate how theoretical issues can both impede and facilitate science.

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Figure 1: Edmund Beecher Wilson with young boy.
Figure 2: Thomas Hunt Morgan.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of History, University of Washington, Box 353560, Seattle, 98195–3560, Washington, USA

    Keith R. Benson

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  1. Keith R. Benson
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FURTHER INFORMATION

Thomas Hunt Morgan

August Weismann

Stazione Zoologica in Naples

Hans Driesch

Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole

Bryn Mawr College

Preformation

Karl W. von Nägeli

Walter S. Sutton

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF LIFE SCIENCES

Morgan, Thomas Hunt

Darwin, Charles Robert

Mendel, Gregor Johann

Conklin, Edwin Grant

Roux, Wilhelm

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Benson, K. T. H. Morgan's resistance to the chromosome theory . Nat Rev Genet 2, 469–474 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35076532

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