AUSTRALIAN GENETICS - A BRIEF-HISTORY

Although Australia has a productive history in plant and animal breedi ng, fundamental genetics was late in becoming established. Before the 1950s there was no separate department of genetics in any university i n the country. Reasons for the delay include geographical isolation, A ustralian and British colonial science policy, and the lack of a 'crit ical mass' of researchers. Through the efforts of Ian Clunies Ross and the CSIR several prominent scientists were induced to come from overs eas to set up the framework for an Australian-based genetics community . Since that time fundamental genetics in Australia has flourished wit h high quality graduates in genetics being produced at a number of uni versities, and many local research programs being initiated. This peri od has seen the gradual internationalisation of Australian genetics an d 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 decad es of this century to the present era of molecular genetics. Significa nt personalities, institutions, policies, reports and publications are discussed in order to make sense of the current structures.