Embryo Project Encyclopedia
Projects
Collaborative Research Projects
The following collaborative research projects are well on their way, while others are being developed by members of our International Research Network. Projects focus on all analytical categories of the Embryo Project.
Marine Biological Laboratory
The MBL Embryology Course has for over a century brought together the top researchers in a lecture and laboratory course attended by most of the leading developmental biologists as students. This project focuses on the course directors, lecturers, students, lectures, and research, taking the course notes, images, and other materials as evidence. This project draws on materials at the MBL and will bring together former participants in the course as well as historians to document and interpret the contributions of the MBL to the history of embryo research. Jane Maienschein is leading this project.
Viktor Hamburger
Viktor Hamburger served as Director of the MBL Embryology Course and as a leading neuroembryologist at Washington University, where researchers Rita Levi-Montalcini and Stanley Cohen received Nobel Prizes for work on nerve growth factor carried out under his direction. Hamburger’s archival collection is on deposit at the MBL, along with his lecture notes for the MBL and other courses. Michael Dietrich is leading this project in collaboration with Garland Allen.
Theories of Development in the 20th Century
Throughout the 20th century developmental processes have been described by a whole range of theoretical approaches, from mechanical and physical models to the computational and systems approaches of today. Collaborating with Caltech developmental biologist Eric Davidson, who has also participated in the MBL course for a number of years, Manfred Laubichler is reconstructing this history, connecting current studies of regulatory gene networks with experiments carried out over a century ago.
The Vienna Vivarium
The Vienna Viavarium, founded in 1902, was for several decades one of the leading institutions in the fields of experimental biology and embryology. Researchers at the Vivarium developed far-reaching theoretical and conceptual innovations based on cutting edge experimental techniques and the study of a wide range of model organisms. The cultural and social dimensions of Vivarium biology, such as the infamous Kammerer affair, are also a fascinating part of the story. Gerd Müller is leading this project together with Manfred Laubichler.
John Tyler Bonner and Theories of Morphogenesis
John Tyler Bonner spent his entire career at Princeton with frequent stays at the MBL, where he wrote his book Morphogenesis in the office of embryologist Edwin Grant Conklin. Bonner’s reflections on developmental biology, building on his study of the life cycles of slime molds, provides insights into many of the twentieth century’s major themes. Furthermore, morphogenesis continues to be an important aspect of our understanding of development at large, combining physiological with biomechanical and biochemical considerations. Manfred Laubichler, Jane Maienschein, and Mary Sunderland are carrying out this project in collaboration with John Bonner and Stuart Newmann.
Transplantation and the Organizer
Hans Spemann introduced the concept of the Organizer in the 1920s. It has subsequently shaped the course of developmental biology for several decades triggering several prominent experimental and theoretical research programs. Scott Gilbert and Brian Hall are leading a project that traces the multiple incarnations of the organizer concept in the course of 20th century embryology and developmental biology. Jane Maienschein and Michael Dietrich are working on the historical context of transplantation research.
Alfred Kühn and Physiological Developmental Genetics
Studying the moths Ephestia kühniella, Alfred Kühn and his co-workers developed an inclusive experimental and theoretical approach that interpreted genes as developmentally and physiologically active substances. They were the first to characterize a complete causal chain from the isolation of a mutant to the biochemical characterization of the gene product to the physiological characterization of the phenotypic effect. Furthermore, Kühn’s career from his student days with August Weismann to his position at the Kaiser Wilhelm and later Max-Planck-Society, his interactions with the Nazi regime, and his role in the reconstruction of German science after WWII, is also a fascinating case study in science policy. Hans-Jörg Rheinberger and Manfred Laubichler are leading this project together with Reinhard Mocek.
Reproduction
This project will connect study of all aspects of reproduction and its social and biological contexts. Jane Maienschein and Rachel Ankeny are setting up this project with Joel Gereboff.
Law and Policy
The legal context for developmental biology is being recorded by legal scholar Brock Heathcotte, in collaboration with Gary Marchant and Daniel Sarewitz, who contributes to the analysis of the science policy dimension of this study.
Regenerative Biomedicine
Stem cell biology, cloning, and related regenerative medicine are closely related to the history of developmental biology. This project includes study of biology as well as bioethics and policy. We will also examine international comparisons. Jason Robert, Rachel Ankeny, Francoise Baylis, and Jane Maienschein are contributing to this project.
Times of Cloning
Based on a workshop in March 2007 at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin, Christina Brandt and Giuseppe Testa are leading an interdisciplinary project that explores the historical, cultural, and sociological dimensions of cloning as an example of a biotechnological research field.
From Embryology to Evo Devo
Evolutionary Developmental Biology has been a major transformation of the conceptual framework of developmental biology over the last four decades. Several members of our research team have actively contributed to this example of scientific change. This project documents and analyzes the history of this ongoing transformation of developmental biology. Manfred Laubichler, Jane Maienschein, Jason Robert, Jeff Schwartz, Gerd Müller, Brian Hall, and Scott Gilbert are all contributing to this project