The Stages of Formation and Development of Genetics at the Kazan University

A.I. Ermolaev

S.I. Vavilov Institute for the History of Science and Technology,

St. Petersburg Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia

E-mail: yamamura@yandex.ru

Received March 10, 2017

Full text PDF

Abstract

The paper outlines the stages of development of genetic studies at the Kazan University (KU), from 1913 to the late 20th century. At the first stage (the 1913s–1920s), the study of genetic problems is associated with the names of V.I. Smirnov (botanist), N.A. Livanov (zoologist), V.S. Gruzdev and T.I. Yudin (physicians). The second stage, the peak in the development of classical genetics at the KU, is associated with the name of V.N. Slepkov and his genetic laboratory. Unfortunately, the entire “Slepkov's School” perished in the years of repression. The third stage is the years of Lysenkoism. However, the first department of genetics appeared at the KU (headed by M.G. Stekol'shchikov, Associate Professor) in these years and existed from 1948 to 1953. The fourth stage, the revival of genetic research (the early 1960s – 1976), is associated with the names of M.I. Belyaeva, M.G. Stekol'shchikov, and B.I. Barabanshchikov. The fifth stage is the first 25 years of the existence of the Department of Genetics at the KU (from 1976 to the late 20th century) headed by B.I. Barabanshchikov, Professor. The modern sixth stage (the 21st century) has not been considered as it has not yet become history. The paper is based on many archival materials, some of which have been for the first time introduced into scientific circulation.

Keywords: history of genetics, Kazan University, V.I. Smirnov, V.N. Slepkov, N.A. Livanov, M.G. Stekol'shchikov, B.I. Barabanshchikov

Figure Captions

Foto 1. Valentin Ivanovich Smirnov. 1930s.

Foto 2. Viktorin Sergeevich Gruzdev. 1910s.

Foto 3. Table of 1928.

Foto 4. Table of 1931. Drosophila.

Foto 5. Table of 1931. Wing mutations.

Foto 6. Vasilii Nikolaevich Slepkov. Early 1930s.

Foto 7. A page from the Record Book of Tsentsiper, a student.

Foto 8. Nikolai Aleksandrovich Livanov. 1930s.

Foto 9. Mikhail Grigor'evich Stekol'shchikov at the Zoological Station. 1978.

Foto 10. Boris Ivanovich Barabanshchikov. 1976.

References

  1. Gaisinovich A.E. Origin and Development of Genetics. Moscow, Nauka, 1988. 424 p. (In Russian)
  2. Bogdanov E.A. Mendelism or the Theory of Crossing: A New Direction in the Study of Variability and Heredity. Moscow, Knigoizd. Stud. Mosk. S/Kh Inst., 1914. 625 p. (In Russian)
  3. Lyubarskii E.L. Andrei Yakovlevich Gordyagin. Kazan, Izd. Kazan. Univ., 2003. 16 p. (In Russian)
  4. Chepinoga V.V., Vin'kovskaya O.P. At the origins of the Scientific Botanic School in Irkutsk: Valentin Ivanovich Smirnov. On the 125th anniversary of birth. Kraev. Zap. Irkutsk, 2004, vol. 11, pp. 87–97. (In Russian)
  5. Gruzdev V.S. Monstrosities and Monsters. Petrograd, Izd. P.P. Soikina, 1914. 32 p. (In Russian)
  6. Gruzdev V.S. Heredity. Petrograd, Izd. P.P. Soikina, 1917. 32 p. (In Russian)
  7. Geimanovich A.I., Yudin T.I. Soviet Psychoneurology over 15 Years. Kazan. Med. Zh., 1932, no. 12, pp. 947–960. (In Russian)
  8. Agafonov F.D. Distribution of rickets among children in Kazan. Kazan. Med. Zh., 1931, nos. 9–10, pp. 968–975. (In Russian)
  9. Lepskii E.M. Race and way of life in the etiology of rickets. Kazan. Med. Zh., 1932, no. 4, pp. 271–276. (In Russian)
  10. Serebrovskii A.S., Dubinin N.P., Agol I.I., Slepkov V.N., Al'tshuler V.E. Obtaining X-ray mutations in Drosophila melanogaster. Zh. Eksp. Biol., Ser. A, 1928, vol. 4, nos. 3–4, pp. 161–180. (In Russian)
  11. Timofeev-Resovskii N.V. Memories: Stories Told by Him, with Letters, Photographs, and Documents. Moscow, Soglasie, 2000. 880 p. (In Russian)
  12. Ermolaev A.I. The History of Genetic Research at Kazan University. Kazan, Izd. Kazan. Univ., 2004. 176 p. (In Russian)
  13. Pisareva S.V. V. Slepkov's case. Leninist, 1988, no. 26, Sept. 11. (In Russian)
  14. Minute no. 10 of the Meeting of the Commission of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union on the Additional Study of Materials Related to the Repressions that Took Place in the Period of the 1930–1940s and the Beginning of the 1950s. Izv. TsK KPSS, 1990, no. 2, p. 30–48. (In Russian)
  15. Pisareva S.V. Returned Names. Slepkov Vasilii Nikolaevich (1902–1937). Kazan, 1992, pp. 171–176. (In Russian)
  16. Ermolaev A.I. Dark and bright years of genetics in Kazan. Priroda (Kazan), 1996, no. 6, pp. 4–6. (In Russian)
  17. Proceedings of the conference of young scientists dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Tatar Republic. Uchenye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta, 1936, vol. 96, books 4–5. (In Russian)
  18. Petrov A.P. Regeneration and chromosome mutations of some plants. Uchenye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta, 1936, vol. 96, book 6, no. 3, pp. 149–167. (In Russian)
  19. Fando R.A. Development of Scientific Schools in Soviet Genetics during the 1930s–1940s. Moscow, ID I.I. Shumilovoi, 2005. 148 p. (In Russian)
  20. Kolchinskii E.I. T.D. Lysenko as a project of Ya.A. Yakovlev, People's Commissar of Agriculture. Ist. Biol. Issled., 2015, no. 2, pp. 81–96. (In Russian)
  21. Inge-Vechtomov S.G. Retrospective of Genetics: Course of Lectures. St. Petersburg, Izd. NL, 2015. 336 p. (In Russian)
  22. Golubev A.I., Porfir'eva N.A. Nikolai Aleksandrovich Livanov. Kazan, Izd. Kazan. Univ., 2002. 35 p. (In Russian)
  23. Barabanshchikov B.I., Ermolaev A.I. Kazan University in the period of Lysenkoism. Ist. Biol. Issled., 2011, no. 2, pp. 54–65. (In Russian)
  24. Feoktistova N.V. Microbiology in Kazan University. Kazan, Tsentr Innovatsionnykh Tekhnol., 2009. 180 p.(In Russian)
  25. Handbook of the Party Worker. O merakh po uskoreniyu razvitiya molekulyarnoi biologii i molekulyarnoi genetiki i ispol'zovaniyu ikh dostizhenii v narodnom khozyaistve: Postanovlenie TsK KPSS i Soveta Ministrov SSSR [On Measures to Accelerate the Development of Molecular Biology and Molecular Genetics and the Use of Their Achievements in the National Economy: Resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR]. Moscow, Politizdat, 1975, vol. 15, pp. 349–350. (In Russian)
  26. Barabanshchikov B.I. Mechanisms of Reparation, Recombination, and Mutagenesis of Bacteria. Kazan, Izd. Kazan. Univ., 1984. 118 p. (In Russian)
  27. Babynin E.V. Adaptive mutagenesis: Rebirth of Lamarckism or a new view of Darwinism. Usp. Sovrem. Biol., 2001, vol. 121, no. 6, pp. 531–536. (In Russian)
  28. Gizatullin F.S., Lyozin G.T. The origin of His+ revertants of Salmonella typhimurium obtained on selective medium. Res. Microbiol., 1992, vol. 143, pp. 711–719. doi: 10.1016/0923-2508(92)90066-W.
  29. Khamidullina R.G., Gigani O.B., Pekhov A.P. Cointegrate forvation during mobilization of nonconjugative plasmids by pAP42 plasmid for genetic transfer. Bull. Exp. Biol. Med., 1984, vol. 97, no 1, pp. 108–111.
  30. Friedhoff P., Gimadutdinow O., Pingoud A. Identification of catalytically relevant amino acids of the extracellular Serratia marcescens endonuclease by alignment-guided mutagenesis. Nucleic Acids Res., 1994, vol. 22, no. 16, pp. 3280–3287.
  31. Meiss G., Gimadutdinow O., Pingoud A. Mechanism of DNA cleavage by the DNA/RNA-non-specific Anabaena sp.PCC7120 endonuclease NucA and its inhibition by NuiA. J. Mol. Biol., 2000, vol. 297, no 2, pp. 521–534. doi: 10.1006/jmbi.2000.3586.
  32. Barabanshhikov B.I. Protection of Plants and Nature Conservation in the Tatar ASSR. Raboty kafedry genetiki Kazanskogo universiteta po kompleksnoj programme "Zashhita rastenij i ohrana okruzhajushhej sredy" [Works of the Department of Genetics of Kazan University on the Complex Program “Protection of Plants and Environment”]. Kazan, Tatknigoizdat, 1989, no. 4, pp. 27–29. (In Russian)
  33. Hohlova L.P., Artem'eva G.M., Yavishev B.G., Garaeva R.G., Ermolaev A.I. Cytogenetic analysis of the effect and aftereffect of synthetic antistress regulators of growth of kartolin-2 and oxycarbam on agricultural crops. Agrokhimiya, 1992, no. 6, pp. 61–70. (In Russian)
  34. Karamova N.S., Il'inskaya O.N., Ivanchenko O.B., Ermolaev A.I, Gil'mutdinov G.Z., Gershanov F.B., Khamitov B.R. Investigation of tonarol's genotoxic effects. Genetika, 1997, vol. 33, no. 9, pp. 1310–1312. (In Russian)
  35. Kharitonov V.S., Semenov V.V., Barabanshchikov B.I. Purine receptor agonists protect the genome of plant and animal cells from clastogen damage. Bull. Exp. Biol. Med., 2001, vol. 132, no. 1, pp. 666–669. doi: 10.1023/A:1012580328826.

For citation: Ermolaev A.I. The stages of formation and development of genetics at the Kazan University. Uchenye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta. Seriya Estestvennye Nauki, 2017, vol. 159, no. 2, pp. 179–205. (In Russian)


The content is available under the license Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.