The French school of genetics: From physiological and population genetics to regulatory molecular genetics

French genetics had unusual beginnings. There are clear indications that th e French biological establishment resisted Mendelian genetics strenuously f rom about 1910 to 1940. From about 1930 to 1950 several unconventional rese arch programs with a strongly physiological orientation paved the way for t he full entrance of French biology into genetics after World War II. This r eview examines some salient features of this history to clarify the strengt hs, weaknesses, and distinctive features of French genetics until about 196 5. We suggest that after that date French genetics slowly merged into the i nternational mainstream as genetics has become a largely molecular discipli ne.