Experiments in empire-building: Mendelian genetics as a national, imperial, and global agricultural enterprise
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Author(s)
Charnley, Berris
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2013
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The first British geneticists framed the productive value of their work against national, international, and colonial contexts. They drew on traditional links between nation, wheat, and civilisation, promising rural stability and national security if only they could command the resources required to create new, agricul- turally useful, varieties. Framing their new science in this manner allowed them to make claims on the public purse far beyond those of the normal patent bargain. With these funds they set about establishing new research institutes across the country and the globe. This paper follows the work of one of the ...
View more >The first British geneticists framed the productive value of their work against national, international, and colonial contexts. They drew on traditional links between nation, wheat, and civilisation, promising rural stability and national security if only they could command the resources required to create new, agricul- turally useful, varieties. Framing their new science in this manner allowed them to make claims on the public purse far beyond those of the normal patent bargain. With these funds they set about establishing new research institutes across the country and the globe. This paper follows the work of one of the most prominent early geneticists, Rowland Biffen, as he established new research centres in Britain and sought to export the same model of development to Kenya. In support of these activities, a public-service-ethos view of Biffen's work appeared in the non-specialist press of the day. This public-service view of his work was one which aided Biffen's efforts to nationalise financial support for his new plant breeding program.
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View more >The first British geneticists framed the productive value of their work against national, international, and colonial contexts. They drew on traditional links between nation, wheat, and civilisation, promising rural stability and national security if only they could command the resources required to create new, agricul- turally useful, varieties. Framing their new science in this manner allowed them to make claims on the public purse far beyond those of the normal patent bargain. With these funds they set about establishing new research institutes across the country and the globe. This paper follows the work of one of the most prominent early geneticists, Rowland Biffen, as he established new research centres in Britain and sought to export the same model of development to Kenya. In support of these activities, a public-service-ethos view of Biffen's work appeared in the non-specialist press of the day. This public-service view of his work was one which aided Biffen's efforts to nationalise financial support for his new plant breeding program.
View less >
Journal Title
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A
Volume
44
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2013 Elsevier Inc. This is the author-manuscript version of this paper. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
Subject
Intellectual Property Law
Historical Studies
History and Philosophy of Specific Fields
Philosophy