Darlington, Cyril Dean

Darlington, Cyril Dean
born Dec. 19, 1903, Chorley, Lancashire, Eng.
died March 26, 1981

British biologist.

A professor at the University of Oxford from 1953, he believed that chromosomes were the cellular components that passed hereditary information from generation to generation. He explained the behaviour of chromosomes during meiosis, formulating a theory of evolution in which the exchange of parts of chromosomes (crossing-over) was the central variable in determining the inherited characteristics of the next generation. His Evolution of Man and Society (1969) raised controversy by insisting that the intelligence of races was determined by inheritance.

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▪ British biologist
born , Dec. 19, 1903, Chorley, Lancashire, Eng.
died March 26, 1981

      British biologist whose research on chromosomes (chromosome) influenced the basic concepts of the hereditary mechanisms underlying the evolution of sexually reproducing species.

      Darlington received a B.S. degree from Wye College, Kent, and subsequently joined the staff of the John Innes Horticultural Institution in Merton (later in Bayfordbury), of which he became director in 1939. In 1953 he was appointed Sherardian professor of botany at the University of Oxford.

      Darlington began his genetic studies under William Bateson at Innes during the 1920s. Unlike Bateson, however, Darlington became an early adherent of the theory that chromosomes are the cellular components that transmit hereditary information from generation to generation. He went on to elucidate the behaviour of chromosomes during the formation of gametes (meiosis). Building on the work of Thomas Hunt Morgan, who had demonstrated that portions of homologous chromosomes cross over—i.e., are exchanged—during meiosis, Darlington formulated a theory of evolution in which crossing over, as opposed to individual point mutations, became the central variable in determining the inherited characteristics of the next generation.

      Darlington's published works ranged from the purely scientific (e.g., The Evolution of Genetic Systems, 1939) to broader discussions of the role of genetics in human history. The Evolution of Man and Society (1969) raised controversy by insisting that the intelligence of races was determined by inheritance.

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  • Darlington, Cyril Dean — (19 dic. 1903 Chorley, Lancashire, Inglaterra–26 mar. 1981). Biólogo británico. Profesor en la Universidad de Oxford desde 1953, creía que los cromosomas eran los componentes celulares que transmitían la información hereditaria de generación en… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Cyril Dean Darlington — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Cyril Dean Darlington Nacimiento 19 de diciembre de 1903 …   Wikipedia Español

  • Cyril Dean Darlington — (* 19. Dezember 1903 in Chorley (Lancashire); † 26. März 1981 in Oxford) war ein englischer Botaniker und Genetiker. Er entdeckte das Crossover der Chromosomen und erkannte dessen Bedeutung für die Evolution. Sein offizielles botanisches… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Cyril — /sir euhl/, n. 1. Saint ( Apostle of the Slavs ), A.D. 827 869, Greek missionary to the Moravians. 2. a male given name. * * * (as used in expressions) Burt Sir Cyril Lodowic Cyril and Methodius Saints Cyril of Alexandria Saint Cyril of Jerusalem …   Universalium

  • dean — dean1 deanship, n. /deen/, n. 1. Educ. a. the head of a faculty, school, or administrative division in a university or college: the dean of admissions. b. an official in an American college or secondary school having charge of student personnel… …   Universalium

  • Dean — (Del fr. ant. deiien < doyen < lat. decanus, jefe de una decena de monjes.) ► sustantivo masculino 1 RELIGIÓN Párroco de la parroquia más importante de una ciudad, en la iglesia católica. FRASEOLOGÍA deán de la catedral RELIGIÓN Funcionario …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • deán — (Del fr. ant. deiien < doyen < lat. decanus, jefe de una decena de monjes.) ► sustantivo masculino 1 RELIGIÓN Párroco de la parroquia más importante de una ciudad, en la iglesia católica. FRASEOLOGÍA deán de la catedral RELIGIÓN Funcionario …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Dean — /deen/, n. 1. James (Byron), 1931 55, U.S. actor. 2. Jay Hanna ( Dizzy ), 1911 74, U.S. baseball pitcher. 3. a male given name: from the Old English family name meaning valley. * * * (as used in expressions) Acheson Dean Gooderham Darlington… …   Universalium

  • Cyril — (as used in expressions) Burt, Sir Cyril (Lodowic) Darlington, Cyril Dean James, C(yril) L(ionel) R(obert) Parkinson, C(yril) Northcote Smith, Cyril Stanley Tourneur, Cyril …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Darlington (Begriffsklärung) — Darlington ist die Bezeichnung mehrerer Orte: in England: Darlington in den Vereinigten Staaten: Darlington (Alabama) Darlington (Florida) Darlington (Idaho) Darlington (Indiana) Darlington (Kalifornien) Darlington (Louisiana) Darlington… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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