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Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 12, No. 5, June 8th, 1949.

Factual

Factual

"The battle between the Soviet orthodox geneticists and the Lysenko school was fought with unequal weap&ns," Dr. Frankel said. "The orthodox scientists used logic and evidence, whereas Lysenko argued alogicatly and presented no evidence worthy of the name."

Dr. Frankel summarized the history of the Lysenko controversy in the Soviet Union during the past 15 years. He maintained that N. I. Vavilov, who headed plant research for many years and was director of the Institute of the Academy of Science in 1940 when Lysenko replaced him, met an untimely end at the hands of the Soviet Government, probably sometime in 1942 in the Far Northeastern part of Siberia.

Dr. Frankel recallel that in 1935, while in Leningrad, he had spent an interesting week associating with Vavilov. Vavilov and his colleagues, most of whom have now vanished or been reduced to an inferior status, were "the world's foremost plant and genetical authorities," he said.

"A commissar youngster, who knew absolutely nothing about the work at the plant research institute, and had only his political reliability to recommend him as the real director, removed Vavilov from his post," Dr. Frankel accused.

"Lysenko finally imposed his genetical theories on the Soviet Union at a stormy Academy of Science session in August 1948," Dr. Frankel declared. "There Lysenko revealed his scientific gibberish, absurdities, and utter nonsense."

Lysenko denies the existence of genes and maintains that germ plasm is not entirely separate from the environment and under certain circumstances may transmit acquired characteristics. He also rejects the idea that the struggle within species is of biological importance. "Discussion at the gathering of scientists ended when Lysenko announced that the Central Committee of the Communist Party favoured his theory," Dr. Frankel said. Immediately afterward, all those who did not recant were fired. "What remained was Lysenkoism."

Though the theories of Weissman have long been obsolete, and Mendel has been superceded for 25 years, Lysenko directs his arguments against these precursors of the modern genetisists, Dr. Frankel said. Scarcely a single reputable geneticist outside the Soviet Union supports Lysenko.

"He is truly ignorant of genetics," Dr. Frankel asserted.

"Lysenko bases his work on Bur-bank and Michurin, two horticulturalists who in their old ages enunciated on genetics without knowing anything about it." the speaker observed.

Lysenko's vernalization and grafting techniques were inspired originally by the work of others abroad, Dr. Frankel contended. His famous frost-resistent wheat strains were the result of natural selection operating on "impure lines" introduced into the Arctic.

"Perhaps Lysenko has intensified interest in some phases of his work," Dr. Frankel said. "But that's all."

Dr. Frankel described Lysenko as a cunning rustic politician who had sold himself to the Communist Party as well as the man in the street.

The Russian farmers thought Lysenko a clever man, according to Dr. Frankel, when he advised them to cut potatoes into many pieces before planting instead of wasting a whole one.

The Irish peasants had practised this method ever since the potato had been introduced from the Americas.

"Lysenko is a practical man of the people," Dr. Frankel remarked. "He speaks their language. The man in the street takes the inheritance of acquired characteristics for granted, as does Lysenko himself."

Dr. Frankel admitted, however, that modern genetics is almost useless when it comes to developing new varieties of plants.

"While it may take a Mcndel-Morganist 10 years to develop a new strain of wheat, If then, Dr. Frankel said, Lysenko promises to do the same in 3 years, Russia Is in a hurry to expand production. Lysenko promises quick results, and the authorities believe him."

Dr. Frankel termed J. B. S. Haldanc, noted British Marxian biologist "not a lesscr geneticist for wavering between orthodox genetics and Lysenkoism, but a dishonest man. He trip to live in both worlds at the same time and refuses to declare himself."

Preceding his attack on Lysenko, Dr. Frankel briefly reviewed some of the studies reported at the 8th Genetics Congress in Stockholm last year.