Richard Goldschmidt
Encyclopedia
Richard Benedict Goldschmidt (April 12, 1878 – April 24, 1958) was a German
-born American
geneticist
. He is considered the first to integrate genetics, development, and evolution. He pioneered understanding of reaction norms, genetic assimilation
, dynamical genetics
, sex determination
, and heterochrony
. Controversially, Goldschmidt advanced a model of macroevolution
through macromutations that is popularly known as the "Hopeful Monster" hypothesis.
Goldschmidt also described the nervous system of the nematode, a piece of work that later influenced Sydney Brenner
to study the wiring diagram of Caenorhabditis elegans, an achievement that later won Brenner and his colleagues the Nobel Prize
in 2002.
to upper-middle class parents of Jewish heritage. He had a classical education
and entered the University of Heidelberg in 1896, where he became interested in natural history
. From 1899 Goldschmidt studied anatomy and zoology at the University of Heidelberg with Otto Bütschli
and Carl Gegenbaur. He received his Ph.D. under Bütschli in 1902, studying development of the trematode Polystomum.
at the University of Munich, where he continued his work on nematodes and their histology
, including studies of the nervous system development of Ascaris
and the anatomy of Amphioxus. He founded the histology journal Archiv für Zellforschung while working in Hertwig's laboratory. Under Hertwig's influence, he also began to take an interest in chromosome
behavior and the new field of genetics.
In 1909 Goldschmidt became professor at the University of Munich and, inspired by Wilhelm Johannsen
's genetics treatise Elemente der exakten Erblichkeitslehre, began to study sex determination and other aspects of the genetics of the gypsy moth
. His studies of the gypsy moth, which culminated in his 1934 monograph Lymantria, became the basis for his theory of sex determination, which he developed from 1911 until 1931. Goldschmidt left Munich in 1914 for the position as head of the genetics section of the newly founded Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Biology.
During a field trip to Japan in 1914 he was not able to return to Germany due to the outbreak of the First World War and got stranded in the United States
. He ended up in an internment camp for "dangerous Germans". After his release in 1918 he returned to Germany in 1919. Because he was Jewish he had to leave Germany in 1935 and emigrated to the United States, where he became professor at the University of California, Berkeley
.
. In it he was the scientist who discovered both Saya and Diva and raised Saya as a Daughter, while keeping Diva locked in captivity. Carl Gegenbaur was also his assistant at the "zoo" were he did his research. The anime portrays a near historical view on him and his associtates.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-born American
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...
. He is considered the first to integrate genetics, development, and evolution. He pioneered understanding of reaction norms, genetic assimilation
Genetic assimilation
Note: Genetic assimilation is sometimes used to describe "eventual extinction of a natural species as massive pollen flow occurs from another related species and the older crop becomes more like the new crop." This usage is unrelated to the usage below....
, dynamical genetics
Dynamical genetics
Dynamical genetics concerns the study and the interpretation of those phenomena in which physiological enzymatic protein complexes alter the DNA, in a more or less sophisticated way....
, sex determination
Sex-determination system
A sex-determination system is a biological system that determines the development of sexual characteristics in an organism. Most sexual organisms have two sexes. In many cases, sex determination is genetic: males and females have different alleles or even different genes that specify their sexual...
, and heterochrony
Heterochrony
In biology, heterochrony is defined as a developmental change in the timing of events, leading to changes in size and shape. There are two main components, namely the onset and offset of a particular process, and the rate at which the process operates...
. Controversially, Goldschmidt advanced a model of macroevolution
Macroevolution
Macroevolution is evolution on a scale of separated gene pools. Macroevolutionary studies focus on change that occurs at or above the level of species, in contrast with microevolution, which refers to smaller evolutionary changes within a species or population.The process of speciation may fall...
through macromutations that is popularly known as the "Hopeful Monster" hypothesis.
Goldschmidt also described the nervous system of the nematode, a piece of work that later influenced Sydney Brenner
Sydney Brenner
Sydney Brenner, CH FRS is a South African biologist and a 2002 Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine laureate, shared with H...
to study the wiring diagram of Caenorhabditis elegans, an achievement that later won Brenner and his colleagues the Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
in 2002.
Childhood and education
Goldschmidt was born in Frankfurt-am-Main, GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to upper-middle class parents of Jewish heritage. He had a classical education
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
and entered the University of Heidelberg in 1896, where he became interested in natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
. From 1899 Goldschmidt studied anatomy and zoology at the University of Heidelberg with Otto Bütschli
Otto Bütschli
Johann Adam Otto Bütschli was a German zoologist and professor at the University of Heidelberg. He specialized in invertebrates and insect development...
and Carl Gegenbaur. He received his Ph.D. under Bütschli in 1902, studying development of the trematode Polystomum.
Career
In 1903 Goldschmidt began working as an assistant to Richard HertwigRichard Hertwig
Richard Wilhelm Karl Theodor Ritter von Hertwig , also Richard Hertwig or Richard von Hertwig, was a German zoologist and professor of 50 years, notable as the first to describe zygote formation as the fusing of spermatozoa inside the membrane of an egg cell during fertilization.Richard Hertwig was...
at the University of Munich, where he continued his work on nematodes and their histology
Histology
Histology is the study of the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues of plants and animals. It is performed by examining cells and tissues commonly by sectioning and staining; followed by examination under a light microscope or electron microscope...
, including studies of the nervous system development of Ascaris
Ascaris
Ascaris is a genus of parasitic nematode worms known as the "giant intestinal roundworms". One species, A. suum, typically infects pigs, while another, A. lumbricoides, affects human populations, typically in sub-tropical and tropical areas with poor sanitation. A...
and the anatomy of Amphioxus. He founded the histology journal Archiv für Zellforschung while working in Hertwig's laboratory. Under Hertwig's influence, he also began to take an interest in chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
behavior and the new field of genetics.
In 1909 Goldschmidt became professor at the University of Munich and, inspired by Wilhelm Johannsen
Wilhelm Johannsen
Wilhelm Johannsen was a Danish botanist, plant physiologist and geneticist. He was born in Copenhagen. While very young, he was apprenticed to a pharmacist and worked in Denmark and Germany beginning in 1872 until passing his pharmacist's exam in 1879...
's genetics treatise Elemente der exakten Erblichkeitslehre, began to study sex determination and other aspects of the genetics of the gypsy moth
Gypsy moth
The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, is a moth in the family Lymantriidae of Eurasian origin. Originally ranging from Europe to Asia, it was introduced to North America in the late 1860s and has been expanding its range ever since...
. His studies of the gypsy moth, which culminated in his 1934 monograph Lymantria, became the basis for his theory of sex determination, which he developed from 1911 until 1931. Goldschmidt left Munich in 1914 for the position as head of the genetics section of the newly founded Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Biology.
During a field trip to Japan in 1914 he was not able to return to Germany due to the outbreak of the First World War and got stranded in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He ended up in an internment camp for "dangerous Germans". After his release in 1918 he returned to Germany in 1919. Because he was Jewish he had to leave Germany in 1935 and emigrated to the United States, where he became professor at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
In popular culture
He was used as a character in the anime series Blood+Blood+
Blood+, pronounced as "Blood Plus", is an anime series produced by Production I.G and Aniplex and directed by Junichi Fujisaku. The series premiered in Japan on Sony's anime satellite channel, Animax, as well as on terrestrial networks such as MBS, TBS, and RKB on October 8, 2005. The final episode...
. In it he was the scientist who discovered both Saya and Diva and raised Saya as a Daughter, while keeping Diva locked in captivity. Carl Gegenbaur was also his assistant at the "zoo" were he did his research. The anime portrays a near historical view on him and his associtates.
Selected bibliography
- Goldschmidt, R. (1923). The Mechanism and Physiology of Sex Determination, Methuen & Co., London. (Translated by William Dakin.)
- Goldschmidt, R. (1931). Die sexuellen Zwischenstufen, Springer, Berlin.
- Goldschmitdt,R. (1940). The Material Basis of Evolution, New Haven CT: Yale Univ.Press. ISBN 0300028237
- Goldschmidt, R. (1960) In and Out of the Ivory Tower, Univ. of Washington Press, Seattle.
External links
- Gould on Richard Goldschmidt
- Richard Goldschmidt
- Richard Benedict Goldschmidt: by Edward GoldsmithEdward GoldsmithEdward René David Goldsmith , widely known as Teddy Goldsmith, was an Anglo-French environmentalist, writer and philosopher....
- Guide to the Richard Goldschmidt Papers at The Bancroft Library