Cyril Dean Darlington (1903-1981)

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posted on 2023-08-22, 13:21 authored by Michael RaynerMichael Rayner, Vinita DamodaranVinita Damodaran, Mick FrogleyMick Frogley

Cyril Dean Darlington was an English biologist, best known for his contributions to the field of genetics and cytology, in particular his research on chromosomal crossover. Darlington's career began as an unpaid technician at the John Innes Horticultural Institution, where he first met influential geneticists, including J.B.S. Haldane and William Bateson researched into cytology.

Darlington first gained widespread recognition in 1932 with the publication of his book "Recent Advances in Cytology," which initially caused controversy but later was widely accepted. In this book, he revealed the rich possibilities of evolution through the mechanisms of chromosomes, surpassing the understanding of single gene mutations.

In 1953, Darlington became the Sherardian Professor of Botany at the University of Oxford, where he continued his research and established the Genetic Garden. Throughout his life, Darlington engaged in public debates and gave lectures on both genetics, botany, politics and later anthropology. He was known as a fierce antagonist to Lysenkoism, a pseudoscientific doctrine prominent in the Soviet Union that denounced Mendelian genetics. This ultimately led to the end of his friendship with Haldane. Darlington also expressed controversial views on race, asserting that differences in character and culture existed between races. His now controversial trilogy on human genetics and evolution, including "Genetics and Man" (1964) and "The Evolution of Man and Society" (1969), aimed to analyze human history through genetic laws, breeding patterns, and Darwinian evolution.

Image Source: John Innes Centre Archives, Folder: JI/P/AL/1, © John Innes Archives, courtesy of John Innes Foundation.