The
Genius of Genetics, a celebration of Gregor Mendel through science and art’
Press Kit
Content
Press
Information
History and Art Revive Origins of
Genetics in Czech Republic 2
Speeches
Kim Nasmyth: Overview of the
Project 6
Marina Wallace: Turning the Idea
into Reality 7
Christine Borland: The Artistic
Interpretation of Inheritance 9
Eva Jiricna: Creating the
Environment for the Exhibition 10
Abbot Lukas Evzen Martinec: The Importance of the
Project
to the Abbey and Brno 11
The Artists 12
Backgroundinformation 14
Fact Sheets
Life of Gregor Mendel – Johann Gregor Mendel
(1822-1884) 21
Mendel’s Experiments – The Dawn of Genetics 22
The Augustinian Abbey of St. Thomas in Brno 23
Brno
City – A Modern Town With a Great History 24
HISTORY AND ART REVIVE
ORIGINS OF GENETICS IN CZECH REPUBLIC
Brno, 15 May 2002 - Artists, scientists, architects and curators from
around the world have joined forces with the abbot of the Abbey of St Thomas’
in Brno, Czech Republic, in a unique venture that honours the father of modern
genetics. The exhibition, ‘The
Genius of Genetics, a celebration of Gregor Mendel through science and art’, tells the story of the life and work of the
Augustinian friar who, in the 1860s, experimented with peas and discovered the
laws that govern heredity. It
opens to the public on Tuesday May 21, 2002 and will last for one year.
The exhibition marks an era
in history when gene research is poised to revolutionise medicine – and,
already, is relevant to everybody’s daily life. It is the first phase of a major initiative to reinstate
the abbey as an international symbol for genetics. Speaking at the launch (15 May 2002), Ms Marina Wallace, the curator and director of Artakt, the
London-based art-science company, said, “There is no greater legend in the
history of science than the experiments of Gregor Mendel.” The exhibition
combines historical items and documents belonging to Mendel with contemporary
works of art on the theme of genetics and an interactive website. In what Ms Wallace describes as ‘a united
nations’ of cultural heritage, the project has been thoroughly and accurately
researched with the help of world-wide experts to reflect the origins of
genetics combined with the excitement and importance of current research. “Another
highly significant historical event linked to this project was the restitution of much of the surviving
Mendel-related material returned by the Moravian Museum in Brno to the Abbey of
St Thomas”, said Ms Wallace.
The
Genius of Genetics is in three sections focusing
respectively on Mendel's biography: his background and motivations; his
research interests and methodology; and his experiments within the historical
context of the enigma of generation and the development of cell theory. These
sections are illustrated by a rich historical documentation, which includes
scientific instruments, Mendel’s annotated books, letters, photographs and the
plans for the glasshouse in the abbey garden
where he conducted his experiments.
Christine Borland, an artist whose work developed from
an interest in family trees, has spent much time with doctors, scientists and
patients. Her contribution to The
Genius of Genetics, is a large three-dimensional representation of the
brain disorder, Huntington’s disease, entitled A Treasure of Human Inheritance and installed in the final
exhibition room in the Abbey alongside material relating to Mendel’s
experiments on inheritance. “Through art, in particular, work made in
consultation with those involved in genetics, we can provide a forum for
dialogue for the difficult issues that arise from our knowledge. Ultimately, people will respond to the art
according to their own experiences,” she said.
Other
artists include Susan Derges,UK, herman de vries, The Netherlands, Cornelia
Hesse-Honegger, Switzerland, Matilda Downs,UK, Rob Kesseler,UK and Gerhard
Lang, Germany. “The artists share a fascination with the patterns observed in
nature and with the scientific search for explanations of physical and
biological systems,” said Ms Wallace.
The
exhibition is housed in an environment designed by the renowned Czech
architect, Eva Jiricna. “The setting and the personality of Gregor Mendel made
this a very special project,” said Ms Jiricna.
She has designed it in the context of the abbey and incorporated a great
many different objects. “It was, above
all, our aim to give the exhibition the atmosphere of respect which Mendel’s
story deserves,” she said.
A fully-illustrated
catalogue in English and Czech accompanies The Genius of Genetics detailing the life of
Mendel, the works of art and the historical items. The introduction is by the curators, Marina Wallace and Dr
Caterina Albano. The geneticist,
Professor Kim Nasmyth, director of the Institute of Molecular Pathology in
Vienna has written the forward and the geneticist, Professor Luigi Luca
Cavalli-Sforza from Stanford University, USA, is the author of an essay
on ‘Mendel’s Greatness.’
The driving force behind
the entire project is Professor Nasmyth.
“Mendel’s work gave us a new outlook on the nature and causes of our
very inheritance. The Abbey of St Thomas, therefore, must be considered a key
part of mankind’s intellectual heritage.” The plans for the future include the
restoration of his experimental garden and the apiary. In 2004, the team are
aiming for a Mendel Museum of Genetics and Mendel Life Science Centre within
the abbey, which will be a forum for discussion on genetics for scientists,
artists and the public alike.
The organising body behind
the exhibition is the Vereinigung zur Förderung der Genomforschung in Vienna
(an organisation that promotes genetic research). The initiative is supported
by leading international figures in
the world of genetics including Nobel prize winners, Dr James Watson from the
USA and Sir Paul Nurse from the UK, as well as the City of Brno and the president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav
Havel.
Speaking
about his vision for the development of the abbey, the present abbot of the
abbey of St Thomas, Lukáš Evžen Martinec, said, “The significance of this
exhibition, now in the first phase called the ‘Brno Initiative,’ is greater
than the area of our abbey and the city of Brno. This work demonstrates the victories of good over evil and of
intelligence over human foible and the false claim that faith, science, and
religion are at odds.”
From 16 – 19 May 2002, nearly 100 leaders in the field
of genetics from around the world will attend an inaugural conference entitled
the European Molecular Biology Organisation Workshop, “Genetics after the
Genome,” co sponsored by EMBO and the Vereinigung zur Förderung der
Genomforschung. Among the delegates
will be Nobel prize winners Christianne Nüsslein-Volhard from Germany and Eric
Wieschaus from the USA. For some, it will serve as a pilgrimage, to exchange
ideas on the progress in gene research in Mendel’s home that he himself could
never have conceived in those early days of experiments with peas. “It will be a memorable experience for this
group of scientists yet just the beginning of a lasting testimony to this
extraordinary man,” said Professor Nasmyth.
For further information contact
Mag. Ingrid
Ladner
B&K Kommunikation
Porzellangasse 35/3
A-1090 Vienna
Tel.: 0043-1-3194378-12
Fax: 0043-1-3194378-20
Elaine Snell Public
Relations
Tel +44 (0)20 7738 0424
(London UK), mobile +44 (0)7973 953794
Vereinigung zur Förderung
der Genomforschung, Vienna
Statutarni mesto Brno
The Genius of Genetics, a celebration of Gregor Mendel
through science and art opens to the public on Tuesday 21 May Opening times Tuesday – Sunday 10.00-18.00 (closed on
Monday). Admission charge: 80 KC for adults, 40
KC for children under 12 years old. Concessions: 40 KC for students, teachers,
pensioners and unemployed persons; 30KC each for groups of school children
(minimum 10 children), accompanying teacher free of charge. Guided tours
available on request for groups (minimum 5 persons). Call +42 (0) 543 42 40 43 for reservations and details. Disabled
access to most areas.Café and restaurant in adjacent Starobrno Brewery www.mendel-museum.org
Catalogue
The catalogue in English and Czech is available at the
exhibition and costs 200 KC (10 Euro)
Gregor Johann Mendel (1822-1884) was born into a farming family. He
entered the Augustinian monastery and became a teacher. Between 1856 and 1863 he experimented with
and analysed pea plants that were the foundations of the laws of heredity. His work was published in 1866 but the
significance of his research was not appreciated until 1900. http://www.netspace.org/MendelWeb
Artakt is an organisation that generates projects combining
art and science researching and mounting innovatory exhibitions that illustrate
history from a modern perspective and uses the newest technologies. Martin Kemp
is Professor of the History of Art at Oxford University. Marina Wallace is Senior Lecturer at Central
St Martin’s College of Art and Design in London. www.artakt.co.uk
Eva Jiricna Architects is an architectural and design practice based in
London with an international portfolio of residential, commercial and retail
interiors; furniture,products and exhibitions; private and public buildings.
The practice is at the forefront of innovation in form and technology, applying
the classic principles of design in a thoroughly modern language. Eva Jiricna,
a Czech born architect based in London for over 30 years, founded the practice
in 1985, and now has a satellite office in Prague. Her contribution to
architecture and design has been recognised over the years with a C.B.E. in the
Honours List 1994, election to the Royal Academy (R.A), and designation as an
RDI (Royal Designer for Industry)." www.ejal.com
The Vereinigung zur Förderung der
Genomforschung (VFG), a
charitable
society, was founded in Vienna in 2000 to support
genetic research and to encourage constructive dialogue between scientists and
members of the public. The VFG conducts pioneer research at the Vienna
Biocenter (VBC);organises lectures and conferences (co-sponsor of the
conference, "EMBO Workshop, Genetics after the Genome" 16-19 May 2002,
Abbey of St Thomas, Brno); and is the organising body of the Brno Initiative to
establish a Mendel Museum of Genetics and Life Science Centre in the Abbey of
St Thomas, Brno.
www.mendel-museum.org
www.univie.ac.at/brno2002
Christine Borland, UK, A Treasury of Human Inheritance,
Huntington’s Disease, Entres Case 2001. Silver, steel, agates.
Susan Derges, UK, Vessel, 2001, ilfochrome transparencies,
light boxes; and Pollen Store, 1994,
ilfochrome photographs.
herman de vries, The
Netherlands, Ilex Canariensis, 1994,
leaves on paper.
Matilda Downs, UK, Map of Cow Markings, 2001. Silk screen
print with pencil on paper. Atlas of Cows,
2001. Screen print, pencil and photo lithography
Cornelia Hesse-Honegger,
Switzerland, Drosophila melanogaster eye-II D, Heads in natural colour 1986, Drosophila melanogaster ey.opt, Heads in
natural colour, 1986-87, Drosophila
melanogaster, ey. opt., Black eyes, 1987. Mutant of the University of
Zürich
Rob Kesseler, UK, On Closer Inspection, 2001, bone china
with printed gold and glass lens. Mitosis, 2002, Blown-glass forms.
Gerhard Lang, Germany, The typical marking of the cow herd in
Sch-nthal in Switzerland, 1994. Photographs and large composite
Pictures of Brno and images
of the design concepts are available
Information about Brno
and the Czech Republic www.visitczechia.cz
Trustees:
Sir Paul Nurse, Cancer
Research UK, London
Prof Emil Palecek,
Institute of Biophysics, Brno
Sir Richard Sykes, Imperial
College, London
Dr James Watson, Cold
Spring Harbor, USA
Prof Charles Weissmann,
Imperial College, London
Scientific Committee:
Dr Michael Ambrose, John
Innes Institute, Norwich
Prof Gustav Ammerer,
Institut für Biochemie und Molekulare Zellbiologie, Vienna
Prof Bernadette Modell,
Royal Free Hospital and University College London Medical School
Prof Kim Nasmyth, Institute
for Molecular Pathology, Vienna
Professor John Parker,
Cambridge Botanic Garden
Dr Jan-Michael Peters,
Institute for Molecular Pathology, Vienna
Prof Dieter Schweizer,
Institut für Botanik de Universität Wien, Vienna
Prof Pak Sham, Institute of
Psychiatry, London
Dr Mark Tester, University
of Cambridge
KIM NASMYTH, CHAIRMAN
Director,
Institute of Molecular Pathology, University of Vienna, A and Member of the
Vereinigung zur Förderung der Genomforschung (VFG), Vienna, A
OVERVIEW
OF THE PROJECT
Today is
an important day for the Czech Republic, the international community of
scientists as well as society as we pay tribute to a remarkable man called
Gregor Mendel who’s experiments with peas in the 19th century has
lead to a revolution in science and medicine.
We are
all interested in our own family histories, by what it is that makes us
resemble our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. Charles Darwin and
Alfred Wallace both realised that the tendency of progeny to resemble their
parents creates competition between self-reproducing entities. Their theory of
evolution, however, had a crucial shortcoming: it provided no explanation for
how characters are inherited from one generation to the next. It took the ingenuity of a young friar,
called Gregor Mendel, working far away in the city of Brno, to set us on the
right track. It was Mendel’s work, which eventually led to the discovery of
DNA’s role in inheritance. Why was the problem of inheritance so difficult? Why
did Mendel succeed where others had failed? These are some of the questions
addressed by the exhibition currently being shown in Mendel’s Abbey of St
Thomas in Brno, Czech Republic.
Mendel
was fortunate that his education at the University of Vienna and the
environment in which he worked provided an intellectual framework, without
which he, too, would certainly have failed. His discovery of what we now call
genes, and the discrete manner in which they are passed from parents to
progeny, must rank as one of the greatest discoveries about living systems.
Mendel provided a “window” on living systems, which lies at the heart of modern
molecular cell and developmental biology. His technique is still very much in
use. Witness the recent excitement about the discovery of genes that may help
to specify human grammar or those whose mutation causes debilitating mental
diseases, such as schizophrenia.
Mendel
was so far ahead of his time that chromosomes and their inheritance had not
been described or understood. As a consequence, those few of his contemporaries
who actually saw his paper could not grasp its significance. Mendel very
possibly died not knowing himself that he had made the seminal discovery we now
know he had.
The
exhibition created by Artakt aims to portray Mendel in the context of the world
in which he grew up and worked. Because Mendel’s work gives us a new outlook on
the nature and causes of our very existence, the Abbey of St Thomas must be
considered a key part of mankind’s intellectual heritage. The current
exhibition is the first phase of the Brno Initiative to establish a Mendel
Museum of Genetics and a Mendel Life Science Centre in the Abbey of St Thomas.
There is no greater legend in the history of science
than that of the experiments of Gregor Mendel, how in the 1860s Mendel
single-mindedly discovered the laws governing the inheritance of the individual
characters, how the scientific world failed to recognise the importance of
these findings during his lifetime and how the remarkable rediscovery in 1900
of what came to be called “Mendelism.” The importance of this exhibition, “The
Genius of Genetics,” and the redevelopment of the abbey of St Thomas here in
Brno, reflects the importance of the genetics itself.
In the year 2001, an international group of scientists from the Verein zur
Förderung der Genomforschung in Vienna and our organisation in London,
Wallace Kemp Artakt, which specialises in creating exhibitions in art and
science, began plans to re-present the legend and its scientific significance
in a new light in the context of science and society in the 19th, 20th
and 21st centuries.
Much of the surviving Mendel-related material was returned by the Moravian
Museum in Brno to the Abbey of St Thomas this year which has made it possible
for us to exhibit original Mendel material together with related items and
contemporary art objects, some commissioned especially for this exhibition.
Our job as curators, assisted by the Brno-based staff appointed by the Verein,
with the help of the Abbot and, initially, the curator of the Mendelianum, Dr
Sekerak, was to identify, conserve, document and photograph all the items which
over the years have survived the many attempts made to silence Mendel’s story.
The most sought item, Mendel’s original manuscript of the paper. With a number
of scholars and scientists, we became a sort of "United Nations" of
cultural heritage.
The objects, including tools, books, letters, and documents, guided us in the
story-telling process. The site itself played a vital role in this process: the
Abbey and its historic library; the site where Mendel’s experimental garden
used to be; the remains of an apiary, marking the spot where Mendel carried out
his own experiments with bees; the town of Brno in itself, the Bank of which
Mendel was president, the Brno community and the history of Moravia.
The contemporary artists who have lent their work and their thoughts to the
project have visually livened up the exhibition: Gerhard Lang, Germany, Matilda
Downs,UK, Susan Derges,UK, herman de vries, The Netherlands, Rob Kesseler, UK,
Christine Borland, UK, Cornelia Hesse-Honegger, Switzerland.
There are plans to hold a workshop involving artists
and scientists next year which will set up a fruitful dialogue between researching
artists and geneticists, offering a work-in-progress preview of the artists’
work for the next phase of the exhibition.
It will start the process of the public and specialists’ debates on
genetics, as well as exchanges of ideas and experiences in preparation for the
life sciences centre planned for 2004.
CHRISTINE BORLAND
Artist, UK – A Treasure of Human Inheritance
In my work of the last ten years I have evolved a dialogue with numerous,
generous individuals researching in scientific, medical and educational
institutions. Their workplaces - cutting edge genetic research laboratories,
dissecting rooms, offices where patients are counselled for congenital
disorders (to name a few) have become my workplaces. As far as I know there are
relatively few similar, comparable models of contemporary practice although
there are certainly historical ones. Most often the resulting work is
large-scale, sculptural or multi-media, installations; sometimes site specific,
and occasionally sited out with the gallery environs.
I hope to find a way to deal with
potentially overwhelming questions of life and death by focusing, in my research, on the microcosmic. My purpose is
not to record, document or illustrate what people do. I suspect that only the
label ‘artist’ could have gained me access to many of the places I have been
allowed - this privilege drives my quest. By observing and asking (sometimes
inadvertently) simple, incisive questions within an exceptionally complex domain,
a dialogue usually develops whereby grey areas can be explored out with
bureaucratic ethical guidelines.
Most recently, following on from pieces
where genetics were considered in the kind of historical context described
above. I became intrigued to find the term ‘eugenics’ cropping up repeatedly in
the press in relation to the so-called ‘New Genetics’ and the potential
applications of the Human Genome Project. I am currently interested in
exploring the ethical debates surrounding these new developments, how they
relate directly to affected families, particularly in relation to antenatal
screening, and their eventual repercussions for contemporary society, as
described here by Dr Tom Shakespeare ; “We
have medical care which ensures our survival, whether we are born prematurely,
or break our backs or develop degenerative diseases ... But at the same time
that disability need not be a problem, genetic science if you are to believe
the hype, is promising to remove disability from the world.”
At best, through art and in particular
work made in collaboration or consultation with those involved in genetics and
its related fields, we can provide a public forum for dialogue for these
difficult issues, away from the hysterical arena of the press. Ultimately, the
individuals comprising the ‘public’ will respond to the art according to their
individual backgrounds and personal experiences. It is essential to value and
engage with these as they form the guidelines we ultimately rely on to make
excruciatingly difficult decisions in the context of the practical applications
of Genetics in our day-to-day lives.
EVA JIRICNA
Architecture
is the response of an architect to what he considers to be his brief. Our task
was to design an exhibition in the context of the Old Monastery, the place
where Mendel lived and worked and enjoyed life with its positive and negative
sides. We have tried to use architectural language to create an environment
suitable for the character if this particular space. The display cabinets fill
the niches of the window reveals, and the graphic panels follow the slope of
the original vaulting. Although we had to incorporate a great many different objects
into the exhibition, it was above all our aim to give the exhibition the
atmosphere of respect which Mendel's story deserves.
Among other things, the exhibition will hopefully cast
some light on the personality of somebody who came from nowhere, started with
nothing, had very little support for nor appreciation of his experiments, and
virtually no recognition of his achievements until well after his death. He
worked without any hope of his efforts being recognised, to be read about or to
even be able to demonstrate his findings to the scientific world. He not only
died a disappointed man but his work was consequently destroyed in sheer
ignorance and spite. He was rejected by those who could have understood the
importance of his work yet was loved by those whose lives were enriched by his
practical advice and his remarkable
ability to be human.
His work - 200 years later - is now amazing the world.
Based on Mendel's initial experiments with peas, scientists now work around the
clock to stretch the limits of what could result in an irreversible change to
the future of mankind and the quality of our lives. And the most remarkable
fact is that it is exactly these scientists, who are experiencing the success
Mendel never enjoyed, who came up with the idea of paying tribute to him, to
put his name on the map, to remind us of the little man behind it all. In the
tough professional world where egos come first in the competition to be
recognized, this is an extraordinary tribute of man to man, an act of humility
and generosity, a truly human gesture.
Let us hope that in architectural terms we have
fulfilled the task of
celebrating the life of Mendel, as much as celebrating the proof that
humanity still plays an important role in our lives.
Abbot St. Thomas, Brno
Ladies and Gentlemen and All Our Distinguished Guests,
I extend a heartfelt welcome to you to our Abbey,
which should rightfully be called the Cradle of Genetics. This is almost unbelievable, but it is
really so! Gregor Mendel’s associates would surely have felt such a sense of
wonder at the magnitude of his discoveries.
We, too, felt the same way when we undertook to organise a completely
new and innovative exhibition on the Father of Genetics, entirely on the basis
of international voluntary co-operation and support.
So, now I shall hand over to the Professor Kim
Nasmyth, a geneticist from the
Vereinigung zur Förderung der Genomforschung in Vienna who’s vision for
the birthplace of genetic discovery has turned an idea into reality.
THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE PROJECT
TO
THE ABBEY AND BRNO
Considering what we have just heard, allow me to close
with the following observation. Many of you will recall how not long ago
certain curious articles appeared in the media. These articles reported the rumour that the Old Brno Abbey would
have a new exhibition. Today, everyone
can see with their own eyes how the "rumour" has become reality.
Now just who is behind this exceptional
achievement? The Genius of Genetics, of
course. But so are all of you, those who decided with your pride, selflessness,
indefatigability, and generosity to lend your skills to this project, which is
so beautiful and so greatly needed.
The significance of this exhibition, the first phase
of the so-called "Brno Initiative," is greater than the Abbey and the
City of Brno. It is even greater than
our entire region and, permit me to say, than European society itself.
Beyond this, we cannot overlook the exemplary
international co-operation among those who sought to work together and who
showed exceptional personal and intellectual character. This work demonstrates the victories of good
over evil, of intelligence over human foible and challenges the false claim
that faith, science, and religion are at odds.
May this first step in our project not only enrich your understanding
but fill you with joy and pleasure in the success we anticipate of this
co-operative work.
I wish each and all of you a superb visit and pleasant
time in our abbey.
Christine Borland - UK
A Treasure of Human
Inheritance, Entres case (2001).
The artist's
work developed from an interest in family trees as the starting point for
medical explorations of inherited disorders. Successive generations are translated
by the artist into a particular three-dimensional configuration in which each
person is represented by a section of an agate stone. The different coloured
agates represent various symptoms relating to the condition, in this case
Huntington Disease - a hereditary degenerative disorder affecting movement,
co-ordination and brain function.
Susan
Derges - UK
Pollen
Store (1994)
Vessel 1-6 (2001)
As artist-in-residence at the Museum of the History of
Science in Oxford, Derges became interested in the history of alchemy and early
science. Her approach to nature is marked by her longstanding observations and
systematic visual representations of ever-changing natural phenomena. Derges’
work represents the actual process of change. It is not intended to provide
scientific proof but rather to find internal parallels between different
phenomena.
Map of cow markings (2001)
Atlas of Cows (2001)
The work Matilda Downs falls neatly in a field similar
to that of Gerhard Lang’s “researches” as a classifier of natural phenomena.
Her interest in codes, systems and patterns, which,
she believes, represent underlying connections between apparently unrelated
things, is akin to that of many of the historical figures of Mendel’s time. Her
photographs of a herd of Friesian cows are taken with the intention of
isolating and studying the markings on the backs of the animals.
Cornelia Hesse-Honegger - Switzerland
Drosophila
melanogaster eye – II D (1986)
Drosophila
melanogaster ey. opt (1986-87)
Drosophila
melanogaster ey. opt (1987)
Cornelia Hesse-Honegger, who trained as an illustrator
at the University of Zürich in the department of zoology, began her work with
scientific publications on taxonomy. She became increasingly interested in the
fruit fly Drosophila, used
ubiquitously in genetics experiments in the 20C (taking the place held by the Pisum in 19C experiments), and started
breeding the insect in her own house, where she could observe it and draw it,
recording its varieties and mutations. Hesse-Honegger’s work raises the sort of
ethical issues that are so difficult to deal with in the context of science and
human endeavour in general.
'On
Closer Inspection' draws on
the tradition of using botanical imagery as a source for decoration on china
and porcelain, the artist produced magnified images of pollen grains as
photographed through an electron microscope. The images have been used to
develop a series of gilt prints, and they have been applied to a collection of
bone china plates.
‘Mitosis’ comprises a group of blown-glass forms
inspired by looking at images of plant cells in the process of dividing and
splitting. A series of spheres have been blown and progressively stretched in
their molten state until two new forms emerge.
Gerhard
Lang - Germany
The typical marking of the cow
herd in Sch-nthal in Switzerland (1994)
“The marking of the cow in Schönthal in Switzerland or
the current state of crime registration of cows at pasture based on the cow
herd of farmer Jenni.” With this work Gerhard Lang introduces an element of
humour in what is a serious fact of nature – animals and humans carry, on their
skin, signs of their genetic make-up.
herman de vries – The Netherlands
Ilex canariensis (1994)
de vries has a collection of more than
2,400 samples of earth, including no less than 300 from Gröningen in Holland
and 350 from the volcanic islands of Gomera and El Hierro in the Canaries. They
are laid out according to criteria of similarity and difference, but not within
rigid categories. The visual differences which are the basis of so much life
speak by implication of the manifold variations in the lives themselves, of the
wonderful attuning of plant physiology to minute variations in the composition
of soils.
THE GENIUS OF GENETICS
A
CELEBRATION OF GREGOR MENDEL THROUGH SCIENCE AND ART