In the early USSR, the Partys officially approved stance on genetics was based on the theories of Lysenko. Lysenkoism was a neo-Lamarkian concept built on theories of the heritability of acquired characteristics called Michurinism. These theories departed from accepted evolutionary theory and Mendelian inheritance, which were deemed anti-Marxist. Lysenkos widespread popularity provided him a platform to denounce theoretical genetics and to promote his own agricultural practices. He was, in turn, supported by the Soviet propaganda machine, which overstated his successes and omitted mention of his failures. This was accompanied by fake experimental data supporting Lysenkoism from scientists seeking favor and the destruction of counter-evidence to Lysenkos theories. Instead of performing controlled experiments, Lysenko claimed that vernalization increased wheat yields by 15%, solely based upon questionnaires taken of farmers. The result of Lysenkoism was that the Soviet study of genetics was put backward by 50 years. On August 7, 1948, the V.I. Lenin Academy of Agricultural Sciences announced that from that point on Lysenkoism would be taught as the only correct theory. Soviet scientists were forced to denounce any work that contradicted Lysenkos research. Criticism of Lysenko was denounced as bourgeois or fascist, and actively silenced. While we can look back with the benefit of hindsight as to the tragic absurdity of this episode in the the history of science, it should serve as a reminder of the dangers that occur when the State, out of Political Correctness, deems that 1 + 1 = 3.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Jun 2014 12:32:40 +0000
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