Heredity Before Mendel: Festetics and the Question of Sheep's Wool in Central Europe

Description

The history of Science is replete with untold stories and this book is one of these accounts. The author shares a narrative of heredity, an active topic of inquiry long before Gregor Mendel – the father of genetics – planted his peas. One such interlude unfolded in Mendel’s home city and involved the sheep breeder, Imre Festetics. He sought to improve wool and proposed important rules of heredity. Unfortunately, aspects of wool quality, now known to be polygenic, complicate interpretations of the work of Festetics and explain why it is neglected. The forebearers of Mendel never get the credit they deserve. Heredity Before Mendel resurrects Festetics, the grandfather of heredity. Key Features 1) Documents a vibrant community of scholars interested in heredity before Mendel 2) Highlights the work of Imre Festetics, the forgotten grandfather of genetics 3) Desribes political repression which stifled the nascent foundation of heredity research 4) Emphasizes the role sheep and wool played as the first model system of genetics 5) Challenges19th century taboos in Moravia leading to malicious rumors about the inbred royal House of Austria (Habsburgs). Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Contents Prologue Author Biography Acknowledgments Introduction 1. The Enigma of Heredity Ancient Theories of Generation: Seed and Matter Modern Thoughts on Heredity: First Steps Toward a Scientific Approach The Roots of Heredity in the Intellectual Currents of the Enlightenment Notes 2. Sheep and Heredity The Beginnings of the Agricultural Society in Brno Christian Carl André: A Visionary Scientist of the Innermost Secrets of Nature Rudolph André: Promoter of Artificial Selection Hugo Salm: An Adventurous Nobleman Promoting Scientific Development Imre Festetics: Planting the Seeds of Hereditary Thinking J. M. Ehrenfels: The Proponent of Climatic Upbringing Johann Karl Nestler: The Professor Investigating the Mysteries of Procreation František Diebl: Professor of Botany and Plant Breeding Cyrill Franz Napp: Patron and Benefactor Thinker Gregor Johann Mendel: The Most Famous Member of the Society Experimentation in Private Learned Societies Breeding on a Scientific Basis The Taboo of Inbreeding The Foundation of the Sheep Breeders’ Society Through Practice to Theory The Genetic Laws of Nature Blood and Heredity: Noble × Common Notes 3. From Sheep to Peas The Transformation of the Sheep Breeders’ Society Academic Freedom in the Age of Metternich The Spirit of the Sheep Breeders’ Society Christian Carl André’s Exit Heredity as Mysterious Phenomenon Mendel’s Peas Bateson’s Chickens Notes 4. The Legacy of Imre Festetics The Festetics Oeuvre What Did Festetics Discover? Why Was Festetics Forgotten? The Rediscovery of Imre Festetics and the Central European Sheep Breeders Note Summary Epilogue Appendix 1: The Opinion of J. M. Ehrenfels About Inbreeding Appendix 2: Explanations of Emmerich Festetics About Inbreeding Appendix 3: Explanations of Christian Carl and Rudolph André Appendix 4: Festetics’s Letter to Hugo Salm Appendix 5: J. K. Nestler’s Lecture About Procreation and Heredity Appendix 6: F. Diebl’s Lecture About the Formation of Wheat Varieties Appendix 7: Hempel’s Paper About Artificial Fertilization Abbreviations References Index