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Questions and Answers
What major finding did Nettie Stevens publish in 1905?
What major finding did Nettie Stevens publish in 1905?
Which institution did Nettie Stevens earn her doctorate from?
Which institution did Nettie Stevens earn her doctorate from?
How did Nettie Stevens' research impact the understanding of sex determination?
How did Nettie Stevens' research impact the understanding of sex determination?
What health issue affected Nettie Stevens' career?
What health issue affected Nettie Stevens' career?
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What did Thomas Hunt Morgan say about Nettie Stevens' work?
What did Thomas Hunt Morgan say about Nettie Stevens' work?
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Study Notes
Nettie Stevens: A Pioneer in Genetics
- Nettie Stevens was a 20th-century US biologist
- She made a pioneering discovery about sex determination in animals
- Her work showed animals' sex was determined by specific chromosomes
- Stevens was one of the first women recognized for her genetics contributions
- Her career was hampered by late start (age 39) and posthumous acknowledgment of her work
- She graduated from Stanford (Masters in Biology) in 1900 and earned her doctorate at Bryn Mawr in 1903 (under Thomas Hunt Morgan's supervision)
- She studied chromosome behavior, focusing on mealworms
- Her research used mealworms and concluded that the sex of an organism is determined by chromosomes and published this discovery in 1905
- This research linked a physical characteristic to a specific chromosome
- She died in 1912, and recognition of her work followed posthumously
- Thomas Hunt Morgan called her work significant in 1912
Sex Determination Debate
- Early 20th century scientists debated factors determining sex (external versus chromosomal factors)
- Some scientists believed sex was determined by external factors like temperature or nutrition during the embryonic stage.
- Nettie Stevens disproved these theories through her studies on mealworms
- Stevens's mealworm research showed sex was determined by the chromosomes
- During the studies, she examined the male chromosomes and identified both X and Y
- However, she found that females only had X chromosomes.
- Her research was groundbreaking since it provided the link between physical characteristics (like sex) and specific chromosomes
Key Contributions
- She identified the role of chromosomes in sex determination
- Her research made a link between a physical characteristic and a specific chromosome.
- Her work was foundational to the field of genetics
- Her studies on reproductive cells provided key data supporting chromosomal inheritance theory.
- Her analysis went beyond mealworms (investigated many insect species)
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Description
Explore the life and contributions of Nettie Stevens, a groundbreaking biologist who advanced our understanding of sex determination through chromosomes. Despite facing challenges in her career, Stevens' pioneering research on mealworms laid the foundation for modern genetics. Join this quiz to learn more about her achievements and impact on the field.
