Spreading the evolutionary synthesis : Theodosius Dobzhansky and genetics in Brazil

The so-called Evolutionary Synthesis, the present paradigm for evolutionary explanations, was established during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. One of the leading scientists contributing to this was Theodosius Dobzhansky, a Russian born geneticist who emigrated to the United States of America in 1927 t...

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Bibliographic Details
Author: Araujo, Aldo Mellender de
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2004
Country:Brasil
Institution:Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)
Repository:Repositório Institucional da UFRGS
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:www.lume.ufrgs.br:10183/23379
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10183/23379
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Genética
Drosophila
Síntese evolutiva
evolutionary synthesis
Brazilian genetics
Dobzhansky
Drosophila genetics
Description
Summary:The so-called Evolutionary Synthesis, the present paradigm for evolutionary explanations, was established during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. One of the leading scientists contributing to this was Theodosius Dobzhansky, a Russian born geneticist who emigrated to the United States of America in 1927 to study with Thomas Hunt Morgan. He was also responsible for the development of Drosophila genetics in Brazil, which was the main organism employed in experimental studies of evolution. Dobzhansky had several opportunities to visit Brazil starting in 1943, to do field and laboratory work as well as teaching. All these activities were fundamental in the spreading of new concepts, methodology, and objectives of the Synthesis to a new audience. This paper discusses the results of the interaction between Dobzhansky and a group of young Brazilian researchers, particularly from the University of São Paulo.