Soraya de Chadarevian, Ph.D., Professor of History, and UCLA Institute for Society and Genetics

After World War II, widespread efforts to establish the effects of radiation in humans provided new incentives to develop methods to study human chromosomes. By the late 1950s the study of human chromosomes had developed into an active field of research at the intersection of diverse political, medical and scientific concerns. Professor de Chadarevian’s talk will investigate the excitement around the new genetic technology and its wide-spread use in such diverse fields as cancer research, pediatrics, gender testing, toxicology, criminology, world-wide population studies and the policy arena. Besides providing insights into a broad range of discussions around human heredity in the middle decades of the 20th century, the study of human chromosomes also points to important continuities to current genomic practices.

Seating is limited; reservations are required.
To reserve a seat, please call 310.825.6940 or email: speccoll-medsci@library.ucla.edu