Oct 21, 20 the thomas hunt morgan speaker series is the leading lecture hosted by the department of biology each year. Thomas hunt morgan 18661945 the embryo project encyclopedia. What was thomas hunt morgans main contribution to science. Thomas hunt morgans most noted work, done between 1910 and 1920 at columbia university, revealed many of the secrets if genetics. He became a professor at columbia university 190428, and began his revolutionary genetic investigations of the fruit fly drosophila 1908. He first used the fruit fly drosophila as an experimental animal, discovering sex linkage in 1910, together with a simple method of mapping genes on the same chromosome see genetic linkage, the units of distance being called centimorgans originally morgan. As an undergraduate, thomas hunt morgan almost failed french even though he was a good student. This is a list of books and monographs by the american geneticist thomas hunt morgan. Trained as an embryologist, he became a biology professor at bryn mawr 18911904, where he wrote his first major book, regeneration 1901.
After all, the woods hole currents supplied the mbl with a rich variety of marine organisms and morgan, an avid. Morgans work played a key role in establishing the field of genetics. He is wellknown for his work with fruit flies drosophila melanogaster and for his chromosomal theory of inheritance, for which he won the 1933 nobel prize in physiology or medicine. Thomas hunt morgans pioneering fruit fly work that helped validate the chromosomal theory of inheritance. Note that interphase is not represented in these micrographs. Thomas hunt morgan, an alumnus of the university of kentucky, rose to prominence as a renowned geneticist. Morgan, thomas hunt, 18661945, american zoologist, b. A primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic.
Sep 30, 2009 early in his career thomas hunt morgan was interested in embryology and dedicated his research to studying organisms that could regenerate. Morgan biographical t homas hunt morgan was born on september 25, 1866, at lexington, kentucky, u. Thomas hunt morgan 18661945although best known for his work with the fruit fly, for which he earned a nobel prize and the title the father of genetics, thomas hunt morgans contributions to biology reach far beyond genetics. Thomas hunt morgan 18661945although best known for his work with the. Thomas hunt morgan 18661945 zoologist faculty 190428 morgans studies on inherited characteristics of the fruit fly laid the foundations of modern genetics and led to such advances as the deciphering of the human genome. Excerpt the following is an excerpt from the emergence of experimental embryology in the united states 1990 by s. Known as the father of modern genetics, morgan won the nobel prize in physiology or medicine in 1933 for discoveries related to the role chromosomes play in heredity. This is a very good biography of the great american biologist thomas hunt morgan. In 1910, thomas hunt morgan performed an experiment at columbia university, in new york city, new york, that helped identify the role chromosomes play in heredity. Early in his career thomas hunt morgan was interested in embryology and dedicated his research to studying organisms that could regenerate.
As a young boy, morgan loved exploring the countryside collecting samples of wild life and fossils. He was educated at the university of kentucky, where he took his b. Morgan began breeding the whiteeyed mutant fly and found. Thomas hunt morgans most noted work, done between 1910 and 1920 at columbia. Morgan took his phd at johns hopkins university in 1890, and researched embryology while at bryn mawr college. Widely regarded as a regeneration expert, morgan was invited to deliver a series of lectures on the topic that he developed into a book, regeneration 1901. Contributions to the genetics of drosophila melanogaster, with a. Project gutenberg offers 60,771 free ebooks to download. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The thomas hunt morgan school of biological sciences at the university of kentucky is named for him. He left columbia in 1928 to serve as chair of the biology division at the california institute of technology. Thomas hunt morgan has 41 books on goodreads with 106 ratings. He shared the prize money with his children, and those of his longtime colleagues, alfred sturtevant and calvin bridges.
He and his fly group made tremendous contributions to our understanding of the role of chromosomes and genes in inheritance. He worked on the natural history, zoology, and macromutation in the fruit fly drosophila. During his distinguished career, morgan wrote 22 books and 370 scientific. Thomas hunt morgan 1866 1945 was an american geneticist. Morgan was the most influential scientist in establishing genetics as a separate field of biology. In 1900 several scientists across europe came to the same realization about heredity that mendel. In morgans honor, the genetics society of america annually awards the thomas hunt morgan medal to one of its members who has made a significant contribution to the science of genetics. The right answer is a, thomas hunt morgan s main contribution to science was his discovery that certain traits were linked to the x chromosome. Thomas hunt morgan the father of experimental genetics selected fruitfly drosophila melanogaster the jackpot of genetics as experimental materials though it is small sized 2mm size because of following advantages in drosophila over pea. Thomas hunt morgan was a famous american geneticist, who was born on september 25, 1866. Page 240 the essential point here is that even although each of the organs of the body may be largely a product of the entire germplasm, yet this germplasm is made up of units that are independent of each other in at least two respects, viz.
What is thomas hunt morgans contribution to genetics. In the early 1910s, researchers at the marine biological laboratory mbl in woods hole, massachusetts, might have wondered why a colleague, thomas hunt morgan figure 1, began shipping fruit flies from his columbia university lab to the mbl each summer. Thomas hunt morgan quotes 14 science quotes dictionary. His most important contributions to science were in genetics. The theory of the gene, by thomas hunt morgan the online. Yet they may indicate also why morgan was a successful scientist, one who received the first nobel prize ever.
Thomas hunt morgan noun the noun thomas hunt morgan has 1 sense 1. In these images, the chromosomes have been stained blue, microtubules green, and microfilaments red. Read more about morgan in the columbia encyclopedia. Past speakers have included nobel laureates and members of the national academy of sciences. Although best known for his work with the fruit fly, for which he earned a nobel prize and the title the father of genetics, thomas hunt morgan s contributions to biology reach far beyond genetics. Chromosomes, mutation, and the birth of modern genetics. In doing so, he changed from a strong supporter of totally regulative development to a proponent. American evolutionary biologist, geneticist, and embryologist thomas hunt morgan 18661945 won the nobel prize in physiology or medicine in 1933 for his discovery of the role played by chromosomes in heredity. During his career, morgan wrote 22 books and 370 scientific papers. After breeding millions of fruit flies, morgan identified a mutation in the. In addition to this genetical work, however, morgan made contributions of great. Evolution and genetics by thomas hunt morgan, 1925. His french teacher was a union soldier and during the civil war was captured by morgans raiders a troop organized by confederate general john hunt morgan. He is perhaps most noted for his fly lab at columbia university in new york, where he collected drosophila fruit fly mutants.
Thomas hunt morgan biography childhood, life achievements. Thomas hunt morgan quotes 14 science quotes dictionary of. Thomas hunt morgan s most popular book is a critique of the theory of evolution. Biology presents annual thomas hunt morgan speaker series. He became less involved with drosophila work and returned to his earlier interests in embryology. Thomas hunt morgan at the marine biological laboratory. Thomas hunt morgan was one of the first true geneticists. He showed that genes are linked in a series on chromosomes and are responsible for identifiable, hereditary traits.
The american zoologist and geneticist thomas hunt morgan 18661945 established the theory of the gene which helped clarify the process of evolution and formed the modern basis of heredity. Morgan made a number of important contributions to biology but is known best as the founder of modern genetics. Guide to the thomas hunt morgan papers, 19161946 3 a distinguished cytologist and took an active role in her husbands work. Thomas hunt morgan was a nobel prize winning american evolutionary biologist, geneticist and embryologist. United states biologist who formulated the chromosome theory of heredity 18661945 familiarity information. Thomas hunt morgan 18661945 is a truly legendary figure in biology. Allens ability to use morgans life as a window on these broader dimensions elevates this book above routine biography. In addition to presenting experimental work that he had conducted and supervised, morgan also. Thomas hunt morgan september 25, 1866 december 4, 1945 wis an american evolutionary biologist, geneticist, embryologist, an science author wha wan the nobel prize in pheesiology or medicine in 1933 for discoveries elucidatin the role that the chromosome plays in heredity. Although this discovery famously came about through his study of a male whiteeyed drosophilia, he didnt create this first fly himself. Despite being a member of the eugenics records office at one point in his life. After observing thousands of fruit fly offspring with red eyes, he obtained one that had white eyes. Use of drosophila in morgans experiment for genetics.
Read this article to learn about the use of drosophila in morgans experiment and morgans contribution in genetics. After breeding millions of fruit flies, morgan identified a mutation in the white eyes of a fly. Thomas hunt morgan september 25, 1866 december 4, 1945 was an american evolutionary biologist, geneticist, embryologist, and science author who won the nobel prize in physiology or medicine in 1933 for discoveries elucidating the role that the chromosome plays in heredity morgan received his ph. Thomas hunt morgans discovery was illustrated on a 1989 stamp issued in sweden, showing the discoveries of eight nobel prize winning geneticists. Thomas hunt morgan s pioneering fruit fly work that helped validate the chromosomal theory of inheritance. May 31, 2010 morgan s work also indicated that genes located on a sex chromosome exhibit unique inheritance patterns. He was professor of experimental zoology at columbia 190428 and from 1928 was director of the laboratory of biological sciences at the california institute of technology. In 1891 he became associate professor of biology at bryn mawr college for. Thomas hunt morgan september 25, 1866december 4, 1945 by a. Thomas hunt morgan was born on september 25, 1866, at lexington, kentucky. Sex limited inheritance in drosophila 1910, by thomas. Thomas hunt morgan, american zoologist and geneticist, famous for his experimental.
Thomas hunt morgan was an american evolutionary biologist, geneticist, embryologist, and science author who won the nobel prize in physiology or medicine in 1933 for discoveries elucidating the role that the chromosome plays in heredity morgan received his ph. Thomas hunt morgan september 25, 1866 december 4, 1945 was an american evolutionary biologist, geneticist, embryologist, and science author who won the nobel prize in physiology or medicine in 1933 for discoveries elucidating the role that the chromosome plays in heredity. In 1928, morgan moved to pasadena to organize the biology division at the california institute of technology. Thomas hunt morgan and fruit flies video khan academy. But they arrived at the discovery from a very different direction. Thomas hunt morgan september 25, 1866 december 4, 1945 was an american. Morgan took his phd at johns hopkins university in 1890, and researched embryology while at bryn mawr college after the rediscovery of mendelian inheritance in 1900, morgan switched his research to the fruit fly drosophila melanogaster. He received the nobel prize for physiology or medicine in 1933. In science it often happens that scientists say, you know thats a really good argument. Early in life, morgan showed an interest in natural history. Morgan, thomas hunt 18661945 american zoologist who was a founder of modern genetics. Thomas hunt morgan celebrity biography, zodiac sign and.
Morgans work was crucial in establishing the field of genetics. Morgan produced 22 books on embryology, genetics and evolution. Thomas hunt morgan 18661945 was an american geneticist and embryologist who studied the development and genetics of the vinegar fly drosophila melanogaster. The genetics society of america annually awards the thomas hunt morgan medal, named in his honor, to one of its members who has made a significant contribution to the science of genetics. Thomas hunt morgan definition of thomas hunt morgan by.
Despite being a member of the eugenics records office at. Thomas hunt morgan continued to work in the laboratory until his death. Allen discusses morgan s personal life but the primary focus is on his scientific work and thought. Morgans work also indicated that genes located on a sex chromosome exhibit unique inheritance patterns. What did thomas hunt morgan contribute to genetics.
Regeneration columbia university biological series, new york. Funds were to be provided by the rockefeller foundation and various private. Thomas hunt morgan september 25, 1866 december 4, 1945 was an american geneticist. Studying hundreds of generations of the fruit fly drosophilia melanogaster, he and the other scientists in the laboratory called the fly room made basic discoveries about chromosomes and the mechanism of inheritance. Morgan won the 1924 darwin medal, the 1933 nobel prize for physiology or medicine and the 1939 copley medal. His research explored questions in embryology, regeneration, evolution, and heredity, using a variety of approaches. In 1910, american scientist thomas hunt morgan performed a gamechanging experiment.
Father of genetics, thomas hunt morgans contributions to biology reach far. In 1933, thomas hunt morgan received the nobel prize for medicine for his work in establishing the chromosomal theory of inheritance. Morgans dual characteristics as a naturalist and experimentalist figure 2 place him historically in an era when biology was transitioning from a descriptive and often speculative field to an experimental one a llen 1969. That year, morgan was breeding drosophila, or fruit flies. The thomas hunt morgan speaker series is the leading lecture hosted by the department of biology each year. Fruit flies are still widely used today in the study of genetics because they are prolific breeders they bear many young and a new generation can be bred. Calvin bridges, alfred sturtevant and hermann joseph muller. Thomas hunt morgan, american zoologist and geneticist, famous for his experimental research with the fruit fly drosophila by which he established the chromosome theory of heredity. He also chose to use a species of fruit fly, drosophila melanogaster, as his model. Allen discusses morgans personal life but the primary focus is on his scientific work and thought.
Thomas hunt morgan article about thomas hunt morgan by. He was an internationally respected developmental biologist before his famous role in establishing the field of genetics and he was the recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees, including the nobel prize for medicine or physiology in 1933. In 1636 the two brothers james morgan and miles morgan came to boston from wales. Three of morgans coauthors have their own articles. Books by thomas hunt morgan author of a critique of the.
Thomas hunt morgan 25 september 1866 4 december 1945 was an american geneticist and embryologist. Morgans nobel acceptance speech entitled the contribution of genetics to. Evolution and genetics by thomas hunt morgan, 1925 online. Thomas hunt morgan s discovery was illustrated on a 1989 stamp issued in sweden, showing the discoveries of eight nobel prize winning geneticists. Thomas hunt morgan september 25, 1866 december 4, 1945 1 was an american evolutionary biologist, geneticist and embryologist and science author who won the nobel prize in physiology or medicine in 1933 for discoveries relating the role the chromosome plays in heredity. Sturtevant thomas hunt morgan was born september 25, 1866, at lexington, kentucky, the son of charlton hunt morgan and ellen key howard morgan. Thomas hunt morgan article about thomas hunt morgan by the.
These essays the outgrowth of a symposium sponsored by the university of kentucky to honor one of its most distinguished graduates, nobel prize laureate thomas hunt morgan provide a representative view of research interests in specific areas of molecular biology. Common types of primary sources include works of literature, historical documents, original philosophical writings, and religious texts. Thomas hunt morgan papers, california digital library. In 1927, caltech officials approached morgan, who was then 62 years old, with the proposal to come to pasadena to set up a new biology program. He developed an early interest in natural history while roaming around in the countryside of kentucky and later earned his b. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Thomas hunt morgan was born in lexington, kentucky. The thomas hunt morgan school of biological sciences at the university of. Jul 23, 2011 in morgan s honor, the genetics society of america annually awards the thomas hunt morgan medal to one of its members who has made a significant contribution to the science of genetics. As a person born on this date, thomas hunt morgan is listed in our database as the 65th most popular celebrity for the day september 25 and the 12th most popular for the year 1866. He began reapplying mendels early plant studies to this animal model system and was warded the 1933 nobel prize in medicine for his work. The right answer is a, thomas hunt morgans main contribution to science was his discovery that certain traits were linked to the x chromosome. He died in pasadena, california, of a heart failure, on december 4, 1945. After the rediscovery of mendelian inheritance in 1900, morgan switched his research to the fruit fly drosophila melanogaster.
1093 482 812 158 1527 787 787 653 639 964 1271 1219 948 861 306 748 1350 430 782 275 13 696 756 630 839 390 1107 859 1257 569 1534 652 1078 754 865 752 484 685 997 345 277 936 529 3 1337 180 605 1249 52