Re: Nominate the most beautiful biology experiment ever

"Dahd" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]

> I'm an older dude and get the impression that too many of our young
people,
> though they know "everything" about genetics, haven't learned of this
> experiment.  Sad.  I don't think you will find a close runner up-- but
then,
> beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
>
I would nominate Beijerinck's TMV experiments - people dismissed tobacco
mosaic disease as a chemical effect until he came up with the very simple
idea of streaking filtrate from damaged leaves onto fresh leaves through
several generations, and showing that the effect wasn't diluted out. It
seems obvious to us now, but perhaps some of the most beautiful experiments
were the ones which look so simple now.
I have to declare an interest - I'm the Curator of the Delft Microbiology
Archives!
Lesley Robertson
http://www.beijerinck.bt.tudelft.nl