Auerbach, Charlotte — Genetics in the Atomic Age

Oliver & Boyd Edinburgh vii, 106, 46 text figs. . HB. Vg in d/w (spine title slightly faded; rubbed, minor edge wear; in removable protective sleeve).. Illustrations by I.G. Auerbach. First edition. In this concise and accessible study, pioneering geneticist Charlotte Auerbach examines the impact of radiation and atomic science on the developing field of genetics. Explaining the fundamentals of heredity and mutation, she explores how X-rays and nuclear research reshaped scientific understanding of gene change and its biological consequences. Auerbach, a German-born scientist, fled Nazi Germany in 1933 and settled in Edinburgh. She was among the first to demonstrate that chemicals as well as radiation can induce genetic mutations - work that helped lay the foundations of modern mutagenesis. Written for the informed general reader, the book combines clear exposition with thoughtful reflection on the scientific and social implications of genetics in the nuclear era. An important mid-century contribution to popular science and the history of genetics..