How theories became knowledge: Morgan's chromosome theory of heredity in America and Britain.

摘要: T. H. Morgan, A. Sturtevant, J. Muller and C. B. Bridges published their comprehensive treatise The Mechanism of Mendelian Heredity in 1915. By 1920 Morgan's "Chromosome Theory Heredity" was generally accepted by geneticists the United States, British 1925. 1930 it had been incorporated into most general biology, botany, zoology textbooks as established knowledge. In this paper, I examine reasons why part a series comparative studies theory-acceptance sciences. context is interest to look at persuasiveness confirmed novel predictions, factor often regarded philosophers science important way justify theory. Here turns out play role decision some accept theory, but less than CTH's ability explain inheritance, sex-linked non-disjunction, connection between linkage groups number chromosome pairs; other words, establish firm genetics cytology. It remarkable that were willing CTH applicable all organisms time when only for Drosophila. construction maps showing location on chromosomes genes specific characters especially convincing non-geneticists.