Hormones and Heredity

Cunningham, J. T. (Joseph Thomas), 1859-1935Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 423K words
Chapters: 43

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Hormones and Heredity by J. T. CunninghamAuthor: Cunningham, J. T. (Joseph Thomas), 1859-1935,Language: English, Class: QH: Science: Natural history, Release Date: Jul 1, 2005

Editor's review

This book is an early twentieth-century discussion of the relationship between hormones and heredity, in which the author, J. T. Cunningham, examines from a biological perspective how endocrine substances influence heredity and development. At the time, hormone research was still in its infancy, and genetics was in the process of negotiating with Mendelism and developmental biology; the book reflects the efforts of that generation of scholars to connect physiological regulation with hereditary mechanisms. Its value lies at the level of the history of science: readers can see how the question of hormonal influence on heredity—still challenging today—was first posed, speculated upon, and debated. Some of the book's views have been revised or superseded by later research, but its framing of the problem and its argumentative structure retain historical significance. The Project Gutenberg electronic edition facilitates searching terminology and citations and is suitable for thematic reading by readers interested in the history of endocrinology and genetics. It should be read as a historical document rather than a current textbook.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Researchers in the history of biology and medicine concerned with the early development of endocrinology
Advanced readers interested in the relationship between heredity and development
Teachers and graduate students in need of primary sources in the history of science
Readers with English reading ability who enjoy thematic historical sources

Not a good fit for

Beginners seeking modern knowledge of endocrinology or genetics
Clinical practitioners who might use the book as a current medical reference
General readers lacking a biology background who would find historical views difficult to assess

Reading tips

First acquaint yourself with the basic background of early twentieth-century genetics and endocrinology before turning to the main text.
Note the author's speculations about hormonal mechanisms and compare them with modern understanding.
Keep thematic notes on whether hormones influence heredity, tracing the evolution of views.
The English terminology is dense; reading chapter by chapter with a biology dictionary is recommended.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Are the views on hormones and heredity in this book still valid?

Some have been revised or superseded. The book's value lies in showing how early scholars posed questions and constructed arguments, not in providing current scientific conclusions. Readers should treat it as a historical document in the history of science and read it in comparison with modern endocrinology and genetics.

Is this book suitable for medical students?

It is suitable as supplementary material in the history of science but not as a substitute for current textbooks. Medical students interested in the history of endocrinology or genetics may use it to understand early formulations of the problems; those needing clinical or basic medical knowledge should choose modern textbooks.

What background knowledge is needed to read this book?

Basic biological knowledge, especially fundamental concepts of genetics and physiology, will make reading smoother. Familiarity with the general state of Mendelian genetics and endocrine research in the early twentieth century helps in judging which parts are period-bound and which remain instructive.

Comments

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About the author

Cunningham, J. T. (Joseph Thomas), 1859-1935 Author · British · 1859–1935

Joseph Thomas Cunningham (1859–1935) was a British marine biologist. Public information about his life and academic career is limited, but his research centered on the development of fishes and marine animals. Among the works held in this collection is Hormones and Heredity, in which he discussed the then-emerging concepts of endocrinology in relation to heredity and development. The book reflects his interest in how physiological mechanisms operate during individual development, and his attempt to bring new findings from experimental biology into the study of marine animals. Overall, Cunningham was a British biological researcher of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who engaged with questions at the intersection of development and heredity, and his writings offer a useful reference for understanding the scientific discussions of that period.