Atomic testing and population genetics: the AEC and the classical/balance controversy, 1946-1957

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dc.contributor.authorSeltzer, Michael Williamen
dc.contributor.departmentScience and Technology Studiesen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T21:51:35Zen
dc.date.adate2009-12-16en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T21:51:35Zen
dc.date.issued1993en
dc.date.rdate2009-12-16en
dc.date.sdate2009-12-16en
dc.description.abstractThe position of the United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in the 1950s on the genetic hazards of fallout and radiation was a distortion of the views of geneticists from both sides of the classical/balance controversy, an intrascientific dispute among geneticists. In their attempt to demonstrate the harmlessness of test fallout, AEC officials argued that low levels of radiation were at worst genetically insignificant, and at best genetically beneficial. These arguments ran counter to the prevailing views of geneticists and represented a misleading attempt to deflect public and scientific criticism of the AEC’s atomic testing policies. Among the factors contributing to the distortion of views on genetic effects among the general public and government officials were the AEC’s unwavering commitment to atmospheric atomic testing; the failure to include geneticists in policy-making positions within the AEC and governmental radiation policy committees; confusion over the genetic effects to populations, as opposed to individuals; and the sharp polarization within the genetics community that resulted from the theoretical disagreements embodied in the classical/balance controversy, a dispute over the nature of genetic variation and evolutionary natural selection.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.extentv, 128 leavesen
dc.format.mediumBTDen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.otheretd-12162009-020310en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-12162009-020310/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/46250en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartLD5655.V855_1993.S447.pdfen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 29741527en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V855 1993.S447en
dc.subject.lcshNuclear energyen
dc.subject.lcshPopulation geneticsen
dc.titleAtomic testing and population genetics: the AEC and the classical/balance controversy, 1946-1957en
dc.typeThesisen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineScience and Technology Studiesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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