Ernest Everett Just spent the summer of 1909 at the Marine Biology Lab at Woods Hole. His mentors at the lab, Thomas Hunt Morgan and Frank Lillie, were impressed by his amazing lab skills and his careful Morgan-like experimental approach. Just became one of the greatest experimental embryologists of his time, and the first black scientist to make a name for himself in embryology. Morgan was willing, within limits, to give opportunity to any student or scientist in whom he saw both skill and dedication. Just remained on the staff of the Marine Biology Lab for 30 summers, rising from student apprentice to senior scientist. He completed in PhD at the University of Chicago based on his work at Woods Hole. Just had a gradual parting of the ways with the Morgan school of embryology, convinced that his cell-surface work would provide a less reductionist view of embryo development. Decades ahead of most biologists, he began to recognize the emergent properties of complex systems, meaning that the properties of any level of organization (molecule, cell, tissue, whole organism) depend on the properties of the level below, as well as on the properties of the whole into which they are integrated. He was largely correct, but Morgan and other embryologists did not accept this organicist view. Just was a professor at Howard University for most of his career, rising quickly to the rank of full professor. In spite of his scientific achievements, he was never able to secure a position at a major research university because of his color. Howard was unable to provide him with the lab facilities or time for research. In spite of these handicaps, Just wrote over 70 research papers and two influential books. Just had considerable success in Europe, where discrimination was less of a problem, though at one point he was briefly jailed by the Nazis when they invaded France. Just was treated as a celebrity at labs throughout Europe. He returned to the US with the outbreak of war, but died of pancreatic cancer soon after. Justs illustrious career was greatly hindered by his race. Morgan recognized his contributions to science, but with his great influence, he could have done more to secure Just a position at a major university. The same can be said about Morgans work with women scientists - he invited them into his lab, but never quite regarded them as equals. In spite of his stature as a scientist, Morgan was still a man of his times with conventional social views. The best short biography of Just is at ARBMB, bit.ly/1tzqa98
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 14:16:45 +0000
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