Auteur: Calvin B. Bridges

Thomas Hunt Morgan (1866–1945) was a towering figure in the field of genetics whose contributions not only embedded the science deeply into the heart of modern biology but also earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1933. Morgan »s foray into the world of chromosomes and heredity culminated in his groundbreaking research detailed in « Sex-linked Inheritance in Drosophila » (1914), a book wherein he revealed the mechanics behind the passing of genes through sex chromosomes using fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) as a model organism. Utilizing Drosophila, Morgan demonstrated that the X chromosome carried factors essential for the inheritance of certain traits, hence pioneering the field of chromosomal genetics. A professor at Columbia University and later at Caltech, Morgan »s pedagogical methods accentuated the observational and experimental possibilities of genetics. Under his tutelage, a generation of geneticists was shaped, earning his laboratory the moniker « the Fly Room. » Morgan »s literary style was expository and rich with detail, echoing his meticulous approach to experiment and observation. His works communicated complex ideas with clarity and precision, fostering understanding of genetic principles among scientists and students alike. His broader contributions to biology span several other seminal writings, but « Sex-linked Inheritance in Drosophila » remains a touchstone of his literary and scientific legacy.