Lysenko’s Ghost: Epigenetics and Russia

by Loren R. Graham

The Soviet agronomist Trofim Lysenko became one of the most notorious figures in twentieth-century science after his genetic theories were discredited decades ago. Yet some scientists, even in the West, now claim that discoveries in the field of epigenetics prove that he was right after all. Seeking to get to the bottom of Lysenko’s rehabilitation in certain Russian scientific circles, Loren Graham reopens the case, granting his theories an impartial hearing to determine whether new developments in molecular biology validate his claims.

In the 1930s Lysenko advanced a “theory of nutrients” to explain plant development, basing his insights on experiments which, he claimed, showed one could manipulate environmental conditions such as temperature to convert a winter wheat variety into a spring variety. He considered the inheritance of acquired characteristics―which he called the “internalization of environmental conditions”―the primary mechanism of heredity. Although his methods were slipshod and his results were never duplicated, his ideas fell on fertile ground during a time of widespread famine in the Soviet Union.

Recently, a hypothesis called epigenetic transgenerational inheritance has suggested that acquired characteristics may indeed occasionally be passed on to offspring. Some biologists dispute the evidence for this hypothesis. Loren Graham examines these arguments, both in Russia and the West, and shows how, in Russia, political currents are particularly significant in affecting the debates.

Genres: Russia, Science, History, Nonfiction, Biology, Soviet Union, Politics

224 pages, Hardcover

Published April 11, 2016

About the author

Loren R. Graham was an American historian of science, particularly science in Russia.

Reviews

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written, concise, gem of a book that judiciously looks at the concept of inheritance of acquired traits, Lysenko, his sloppiness as a scientist, correction of some myths about his ideas, his pernicious effects on Soviet genetics, epigenetics, and how that new field has help to boost advocates for Lysenko in modern Russia. As I said, it is a concise book, so it isn't going for depth, but it does make cogent arguments and I found it both an interesting read and a spur to read more deeply, especially on one of the most infamous scientific villains of the 20th century.

[Erick Aparicio · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great insight and retelling of the connection between Russian politics and genetics, both in the 20th century and today. It is also a stark reminder that reality and established science don't give concern to one's political ideologies, no matter how fervent or well-intentioned one is in their political beliefs. It is true to say that there is such thing as a human nature, and a scientific material reality; and it isn't Marxist. Fantastic read.

[Karl · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome fun i learned a lot nice

[Oswaldo Angeles · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a well documented book on how politics played a mayor role in Soviet science. An intentional misread of Darwin's works led to the creation of Marxism Darwinism, which became the central point for Soviet scientific research. This allowed Lysenko (a poorly educated agronomist) on the top of the Comunist Science department, just because some of his non-rigours-at-all experiments loosely"validated" the Soviet vision of science. This ridiculous decisions led to damning results. As you might expect, questioning scientists were sent to the Gulag. This full-on-ideology science approach was applied in Cuba with even worse results.
It is a much needed read in order to understand how harmful ideology might be.
We must seek science, pure science, no adjectives.

[Giselle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sobre los peligros de mezclar ideología política con la ciencia, realmente espeluznante.