On the internal dynamics of mendelian genetics

This paper offers a revisionist account of the development of Mendelian gen etics, focusing on the 'problem of the gene', 1900-1930. I examine conflict ing claims about the composition, location, and action of genes posed by Ba teson, the Morgan group, and Goldschmidt. Their research programs focused o n different phenotypes and were leased on different assumptions about the n ature of genes. The problem of the gene transcended such specific research programs, but their findings had to be taken into account to solve it. The need to resolve conflicting claims drove Mendelian geneticists to exploit t he resources and invade the turf of other disciplines in their search for a sound characterization of the gene. The problem of reconciling conflicting views greatly influenced the development of genetics and provided the stim ulus for many of the discoveries made by geneticists from 1900 to 1940. (C) 2000 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques ct medicales Elsevier SA S.