Centennial History of the Carnegie Institution of Washington: Volume 5, The Department of Embryology

Founded in 1914, the Department of Embryology of the Carnegie Institution of Washington has made an unparalleled contribution to the biological understanding of embryos and their development. Originally much of the research was carried out through experimental embryology, but by the second half of the twentieth century, tissue and cell cultures were providing histological information about development, and biochemistry and molecular genetics have taken center stage. This final volume in a series of five histories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington provides a history of embryology and reproductive biology spanning a hundred years. It provides important insights into the evolution of both scientific ideas and the public perception of embryo research, concluding with a reflection on current debates.

Preface; Introduction Jane Maienschein; 1. The human embryo collection at the Department of Embryology of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Adrianne Noe; 2. How rhesus monkeys became laboratory animals Elizabeth Hanson; 3. Reproductive science at the Carnegie Department of Embryology, 1913–71 Adele E. Clarke; 4. The Lewis films: tissue culture and 'living anatomy' at the Department of Embryology, 1919–40 Hannah Landecker; 5. Heredity, development and evolution at the Carnegie Insitution of Washington Garland E. Allen; 6. The Department of Embryology in the second half of the twentieth century Donald D. Brown; 7. Looking ahead Allan Spradling.