H. Bentley Glass
Encyclopedia
Hiram Bentley Glass was an American
geneticist
and noted columnist
. Born in China
to missionary
parents, he attended college at Baylor University
in Texas
. He then furthered his education at the University of Texas
, where he received his Ph.D.
degree under the mentorship of geneticist Hermann Joseph Muller
. His first major academic appointment was at Johns Hopkins University
, at which time he was also a regular columnist for the Baltimore Evening Sun newspaper.
Glass was a frequent attendee of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Symposia.
In 1965, Glass became the first Academic Vice-President and Professor of Biological Sciences at the State University of New York at Stony Brook
.
Dr. Glass' scientific papers were donated to and are available at the American Philosophical Society
.
Throughout his long scientific career, he held many distinguished academic titles, including
. In response to the destructive (consciously or unconsciously racist) views of Charles Davenport
, Morris Steggerda
and others, Glass wrote "Geneticists Embattled: Their Stand Against Rampant Eugenics and Racism in America During the 1920s and 1930s". The following excerpt is emblematic:
"Let us remember that the genes which are passed down in the egg and sperm from one generation to another are simply molecules of DNA, selected over eons as providing individuals to survive in a real world and to reproduce when mature. The genes control only the kinds of proteins that are actually made in the cell and tissues of the growing, developing individual, or control the turning on and turning off of these synthetic processes at appropriate times and in appropriate tissues during development. Their effects, whether fortunate or unfortunate, depend on the circumstances of the environment, biological, social cultural. Behavior reflects the changes in state and attitude assumed by a growing, developing being as its situation becomes altered. Darwinian evolution is based on the selection (read “preservation” or “perpetuation”) of whatever genetic differences promote survival and reproduction, although that may include even such forms of behavior as altruism if thereby genes like those of the self-sacrificing individual are preserved in the related beings saved from death or infertility. But the circumstances—-that is, the environment—-define what is a “good” gene and what is a “bad” one. The flaw in Social Darwinism
, and likewise in the over-extended sociobiology, is to ignore the interdependency of genes and environment—-to think in absolute terms of good or bad genes, good or bad phenotypes."
(excerpt from "Geneticists Embattled," p. 148)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
geneticist
Geneticist
A geneticist is a biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a researcher or lecturer. Some geneticists perform experiments and analyze data to interpret the inheritance of skills. A geneticist is also a Consultant or...
and noted columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
. Born in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
parents, he attended college at Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He then furthered his education at the University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, where he received his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree under the mentorship of geneticist Hermann Joseph Muller
Hermann Joseph Muller
Hermann Joseph Muller was an American geneticist, educator, and Nobel laureate best known for his work on the physiological and genetic effects of radiation as well as his outspoken political beliefs...
. His first major academic appointment was at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, at which time he was also a regular columnist for the Baltimore Evening Sun newspaper.
Glass was a frequent attendee of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is a private, non-profit institution with research programs focusing on cancer, neurobiology, plant genetics, genomics and bioinformatics. The Laboratory has a broad educational mission, including the recently established Watson School of Biological Sciences. It...
Symposia.
In 1965, Glass became the first Academic Vice-President and Professor of Biological Sciences at the State University of New York at Stony Brook
State University of New York at Stony Brook
The State University of New York at Stony Brook, also known as Stony Brook University, is a public research university located in Stony Brook, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island, about east of Manhattan....
.
Dr. Glass' scientific papers were donated to and are available at the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
.
Throughout his long scientific career, he held many distinguished academic titles, including
- Editor of The Quarterly Review of BiologyThe Quarterly Review of BiologyThe Quarterly Review of Biology or QRB is a scientific review of current and historical topics in biology as well as a source of book reviews. It was begun in 1926 by Raymond Pearl. In the 1960s, the Review was purchased by the Stony Brook Foundation when the editor H. Bentley Glass became...
, 1944-1986 - Editor of ScienceScience (journal)Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
, 1953 - President of the American Institute of Biological SciencesAmerican Institute of Biological SciencesThe American Institute of Biological Sciences is a non-profit scientific association that is dedicated to advancing biological research and education.-Overview:...
(AIBS), 1954-1956 - President of the Maryland Chapter of the American Civil Liberties UnionAmerican Civil Liberties UnionThe American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
(ACLU), 1955-1965 - President of the American Association of University ProfessorsAmerican Association of University ProfessorsThe American Association of University Professors is an organization of professors and other academics in the United States. AAUP membership is about 47,000, with over 500 local campus chapters and 39 state organizations...
(AAUP), 1958-1960 - Chairman of the Board of the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS), 1959-1965
- President of the American Society of Human GeneticsAmerican Society of Human GeneticsThe American Society of Human Genetics , founded in 1948, is the primary professional membership organization for specialists in human genetics worldwide. As of 2009, the organization had approximately 8,000 members...
(ASHG), 1967 - President of Phi Beta Kappa, 1967-1970
- President of the American Association for the Advancement of ScienceAmerican Association for the Advancement of ScienceThe American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
(AAAS), 1969 - President of the National Association of Biology TeachersNational Association of Biology TeachersThe National Association of Biology Teachers is an American-based scholarly society that "empowers educators to provide the best possible biology and life science education for all students."...
(NABT), 1971
Glass on Genetic Determinism
Like his doctoral mentor H. J. Muller, Bentley Glass was deeply concerned about eugenicsEugenics
Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
. In response to the destructive (consciously or unconsciously racist) views of Charles Davenport
Charles Davenport
Charles Benedict Davenport was a prominent American eugenicist and biologist. He was one of the leaders of the American eugenics movement, which was directly involved in the sterilization of around 60,000 "unfit" Americans and strongly influenced the Holocaust in Europe.- Biography :Davenport was...
, Morris Steggerda
Morris Steggerda
Morris Steggerda was an American physical anthropologist. He worked primarily on Central American and Caribbean populations.-Biography:...
and others, Glass wrote "Geneticists Embattled: Their Stand Against Rampant Eugenics and Racism in America During the 1920s and 1930s". The following excerpt is emblematic:
"Let us remember that the genes which are passed down in the egg and sperm from one generation to another are simply molecules of DNA, selected over eons as providing individuals to survive in a real world and to reproduce when mature. The genes control only the kinds of proteins that are actually made in the cell and tissues of the growing, developing individual, or control the turning on and turning off of these synthetic processes at appropriate times and in appropriate tissues during development. Their effects, whether fortunate or unfortunate, depend on the circumstances of the environment, biological, social cultural. Behavior reflects the changes in state and attitude assumed by a growing, developing being as its situation becomes altered. Darwinian evolution is based on the selection (read “preservation” or “perpetuation”) of whatever genetic differences promote survival and reproduction, although that may include even such forms of behavior as altruism if thereby genes like those of the self-sacrificing individual are preserved in the related beings saved from death or infertility. But the circumstances—-that is, the environment—-define what is a “good” gene and what is a “bad” one. The flaw in Social Darwinism
Social Darwinism
Social Darwinism is a term commonly used for theories of society that emerged in England and the United States in the 1870s, seeking to apply the principles of Darwinian evolution to sociology and politics...
, and likewise in the over-extended sociobiology, is to ignore the interdependency of genes and environment—-to think in absolute terms of good or bad genes, good or bad phenotypes."
(excerpt from "Geneticists Embattled," p. 148)
Selected bibliography
- Bentley Glass Progress or Catastrophe: The Nature of Biological Science and Its Impact on Human Society (Praeger Publishers, 1985). ISBN 0-275-90107-6
- Bentley Glass, Owsei Temkin, William L. Straus, Jr. Forerunners of Darwin, 1745-1859 (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1968) ISBN 0-8018-0222-9
- Bentley Glass "Ethical Basis of Science" (Haifa, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 1969)
- Bentley Glass "Science and ethical values" (Greenwood Press, 1981)
- Bentley Glass "“Geneticists Embattled: Their Stand Against Rampant Eugenics and Racism in America During the 1920s and 1930s,” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 130, No. 1 (1986) pp. 130-155 http://www.jstor.org/pss/987094
External links
- Audra Wolfe. "Bentley Glass, Century's Son." Mendel Newsletter n.s. 12 (2003). A publication of the American Philosophical SocietyAmerican Philosophical SocietyThe American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
Library. - Boston Globe Obituary