Word: lysenkoism
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...things-an intricate debate on genetics. This week, linking fact with plausible conjecture, the New York Times's Foreign Correspondent Cyrus L. Sulzberger put together the story. In the summer of 1948, 700 Soviet biologists met in conference to discuss solemnly the theory of Lysenkovism. Geneticist T. D. Lysenko contended that "acquired characteristics"-those attributed to environment-can be inherited. This meant that Communist education could more or less create a new species of human being, and then transmit the features to future generations...
Soviet scientists lost face with their free colleagues a few years ago when they were forced to support pseudo-scientific theories that conform to Communist orthodoxy. Many scientist sympathizers, including Britain's Professor J.B.S. Haldane, broke with the Russian line over the dogma that Trofim Lysenko's sloppy genetics teaching (i.e., that environment is the big determinant in the development of life) is the only true doctrine. it was widely predicted that subjection to such authority would seriously damage the morale of Soviet scientists, and that the ill effects would soon show up on the practical level...
...some Soviet bigwigs have come to the same conclusion-in part. Last week an article in the Moscow magazine Culture and Life attacked dogmatism in science. It advocated a constant review of accepted scientific theses in the light of new knowledge and experience. It even slapped Soviet geneticists, i.e., Lysenko & Co., for following too obediently the doctrines of the late Horticulturist Ivan Michurin...
Chairman of the meeting on "Academic Freedom and the Cold War" was Ralph Spitzer, ex-associate professor of Chemistry at Oregon, who was dismissed for suggesting inquiry into the Lysenko theory of genetics. Spitzer attacked the Mundt-Ferguson-Nixon Bill since it,"perseribes thoughts for everyone...
Chairing the meeting will be Ralph Spitzer, ex-associate professor of Chemistry at Oregon State College, who was dismissed for suggesting inquiry into the Lysenko theory. Spitzer will add a few comments on the Mundt-Ferguson-Nixon Bill...