William Bateson, Naturalist

The biologist and evolutionist William Bateson (1861–1926) was inspired by the long-neglected work of Mendel on heredity to pursue experimental research in what he named 'genetics'. This 1928 volume – including a substantial memoir by Bateson's wife – gives readers access to selected papers and allows them to consider him afresh.

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William Bateson (1861–1926) began his academic career working on variation in animals in the light of evolutionary theory. He was inspired by the rediscovery of Gregor Mendel's work on plant hybridisation to pursue further experimental work in what he named 'genetics'. He realised that Mendel's results could help to solve difficult biological questions and controversies which others had glossed over, and to challenge assumptions underlying evolution as it was understood at the time. After two years as Professor of Biology at Cambridge he left in 1910 to become Director of the newly founded John Innes Institute. Bateson's argumentative personality and unorthodox approach did not make him popular, and his reputation declined after his death. Was Bateson misunderstood? Was evolution misunderstood? This 1928 volume – including a substantial memoir by Bateson's wife – gives readers access to selected papers and addresses and allows them to consider him afresh.