McCann D A, Batterham P
Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Genetica. 1993;90(2-3):81-114. doi: 10.1007/BF01435033.
Although Australia has a productive history in plant and animal breeding, fundamental genetics was late in becoming established. Before the 1950s there was no separate department of genetics in any university in the country. Reasons for the delay include geographical isolation, Australian and British colonial science policy, and the lack of a 'critical mass' of researchers. Through the efforts of Ian Clunies Ross and the CSIR several prominent scientists were induced to come from overseas to set up the framework for an Australian-based genetics community. Since that time fundamental genetics in Australia has flourished with high quality graduates in genetics being produced at a number of universities, and many local research programs being initiated. This period has seen the gradual internationalization of Australian genetics and increased collaboration with overseas researchers taking place. This paper provides an historical overview of the origins and progress of genetics in Australia beginning with plant breeding in the first decades of this century to the present era of molecular genetics. Significant personalities, institutions, policies, reports and publications are discussed in order to make sense of the current structures.
尽管澳大利亚在动植物育种方面有着丰硕的历史成果，但基础遗传学的建立却较晚。20世纪50年代之前，该国任何一所大学都没有独立的遗传学系。延迟的原因包括地理隔离、澳大利亚和英国的殖民科学政策以及缺乏研究人员的“临界数量”。通过伊恩·克卢尼斯·罗斯和英联邦科学与工业研究组织的努力，几位杰出的科学家被吸引从海外前来，为澳大利亚的遗传学领域建立了框架。从那时起，澳大利亚的基础遗传学蓬勃发展，许多大学培养出了高质量的遗传学专业毕业生，并启动了许多本地研究项目。这一时期见证了澳大利亚遗传学的逐步国际化以及与海外研究人员合作的增加。本文提供了澳大利亚遗传学起源与发展的历史概述，从本世纪头几十年的植物育种到当前的分子遗传学时代。文中讨论了重要人物、机构、政策、报告和出版物，以便理解当前的结构。
