[Historic Development of Clinical Biology Laboratories in Luxembourg]. / Evolution historique des laboratoires de biologie médicale au Luxembourg.

After a short overview on the development of diagnostic tools in clinical biology at an international level from Antiquity towards today, a history of the clinical biology including public and private institutions in Luxembourg will be outlined.

The holist tradition in twentieth century genetics. Wilhelm Johannsen's genotype concept.

The terms 'genotype', 'phenotype' and 'gene' originally had a different meaning from that in the Modern Synthesis. These terms were coined in the first decade of the twentieth century by the Danish plant physiologist Wilhelm Johannsen. His bean selection experiment and his theoretical analysis of the difference between genotype and phenotype were important inputs to the formation of genetics as a well-defined special discipline. This paper shows how Johannsen's holistic genotype theory provided a platform for criticism of narrowly genocentric versions of the chromosome theory of heredity that came to dominate genetics in the middle decades of the twentieth century. Johannsen came to recognize the epoch-making importance of the work done by the Drosophila group, but he continued to insist on the incompleteness of the chromosome theory. Genes of the kind that they mapped on the chromosomes could only give a partial explanation of biological heredity and evolution.

Randomness and multilevel interactions in biology.

The dynamic instability of living systems and the "superposition" of different forms of randomness are viewed, in this paper, as components of the contingently changing, or even increasing, organization of life through ontogenesis or evolution. To this purpose, we first survey how classical and quantum physics define randomness differently. We then discuss why this requires, in our view, an enriched understanding of the effects of their concurrent presence in biological systems' dynamics. Biological randomness is then presented not only as an essential component of the heterogeneous determination and intrinsic unpredictability proper to life phenomena, due to the nesting of, and interaction between many levels of organization, but also as a key component of its structural stability. We will note as well that increasing organization, while increasing "order", induces growing disorder, not only by energy dispersal effects, but also by increasing variability and differentiation. Finally, we discuss the cooperation between diverse components in biological networks; this cooperation implies the presence of constraints due to the particular nature of bio-entanglement and bio-resonance, two notions to be reviewed and defined in the paper.

Human evolution across the disciplines: spotlights on American anthropology and genetics.

When thinking about human evolution across the disciplines, terms such as "anthropological genetics" or "genetic anthropology" that brazenly defy the existence of the two-cultures divide seem to promise important insights. They refer to the application of genetic techniques to the past of humankind and human groups, a fact emphasized most strongly by the expression "genetic history." Such daring linguistic alliances have been forming since 1962 when the name "molecular anthropology" was introduced in the American context. This was an opportune moment for biochemists and physical chemists to enter anthropology, because in the U.S. a rapprochement between the fields was aimed for. However, a belief in and a discourse of a hierarchy of disciplines structured along the lines of methodology and epistemic object worked as an obstacle to the achievement of transdisciplinarity. Especially the DNA-sequence, initially approached through the proxy of the protein, was regarded as the most informative historical document due to its distance from the environment and its amenability to rigorous scientific techniques. These notions had a particular power at a time when anthropology was confronted with its legacy of race science. For some, the perceived objectivity of the new molecular approaches and the neutrality of molecules would render anthropology more natural-scientific and by inference less culturally contaminated. Others, to the contrary, believed that this legacy demanded a holistic and ethically reflexive anthropology. The different perceptions thus went along with different understandings of such crucial terms as "anthropology" and "history." In the paper, I revisit interfaces between different anthropological fields in the U.S. context and suggest that the beliefs in a hierarchy of approaches as well as in a nature free from culture embodied in the DNA-sequence has worked as one of the primary obstacles to an integration of these fields.

[Comparative research into the process of forming the theory of constitution in ancient western medicine and that of four trigrams constitution in Korean medicine and contents of two theories of constitution].

After conducting comparative research into the process of forming the Theory of Constitution in Ancient Western Medicine and that of Four Trigrams Constitution(Sasang Constitution) in Korean Medicine and contents of two Theories of Constitution in terms of medical history, both theories were found to be formed by an interaction between philosophy and medicine, followed by a combination of the two, on a philosophical basis. The Theory of Constitution in Ancient Western Medicine began with the Theory of Four Elements presented by Empedocles, followed by the Theory of Four Humors presented by Hippocrates and the Theory of Four Temperaments by Galenos, forming and developing the Theory of Constitution. After the Middle Ages, there was no significant advance in the Theory of Constitution by modern times ; however, it developed into the theory of constitution type of Kretschmer and others after the 19th century and into the scientific theory of constitution based on genetics presented by Garrod and others early in the 20th century. The Theory of Four Trigrams Constitution began with the Theory of Constitution in Huangdi Neijing, followed by developments and influences of existing medicine called beginning, restoration, and revival periods and DongeuisoosebowonSaSangChoBonGwon based on the original philosophy of Four Trigrams presented by Lee Je-ma, which is found in GyeokChiGo, DongMuYuGo and so on, ultimately forming and developing into the Theory of Four Trigrams Constitution in Dongeuisoosebowon. Recently, a lot of research is being conducted into making it objective in order to achieve reproducibility in diagnosis and so forth of Four Trigrams Constitution.

Comparative Research into the Process of Forming the Theory of Constitution in Ancient Western Medicine and that of Four Trigrams Constitution in Korean Medicine and Contents of Two Theories of Constitution / 의사학

After conducting comparative research into the process of forming the Theory of Constitution in Ancient Western Medicine and that of Four Trigrams Constitution(Sasang Constitution) in Korean Medicine and contents of two Theories of Constitution in terms of medical history, both theories were found to be formed by an interaction between philosophy and medicine, followed by a combination of the two, on a philosophical basis. The Theory of Constitution in Ancient Western Medicine began with the Theory of Four Elements presented by Empedocles, followed by the Theory of Four Humors presented by Hippocrates and the Theory of Four Temperaments by Galenos, forming and developing the Theory of Constitution. After the Middle Ages, there was no significant advance in the Theory of Constitution by modern times ; however, it developed into the theory of constitution type of Kretschmer and others after the 19th century and into the scientific theory of constitution based on genetics presented by Garrod and others early in the 20th century. The Theory of Four Trigrams Constitution began with the Theory of Constitution in Huangdi Neijing, followed by developments and influences of existing medicine called beginning, restoration, and revival periods and DongeuisoosebowonSaSangChoBonGwon based on the original philosophy of Four Trigrams presented by Lee Je-ma, which is found in GyeokChiGo, DongMuYuGo and so on, ultimately forming and developing into the Theory of Four Trigrams Constitution in Dongeuisoosebowon. Recently, a lot of research is being conducted into making it objective in order to achieve reproducibility in diagnosis and so forth of Four Trigrams Constitution.

Genética de la preeclampsia / Genetics of preclampsia

La preeclampsia es un trastorno hipertensivo específico del embarazo y es una de las principales causas de morbilidad y mortalidad materna y neonatal en todo el mundo, afectando 5 a 7% de todos los embarazos. En Colombia es la primera causa de morbilidad y mortalidad materna, siendo un problema de salud pública. Muchas investigaciones coinciden en que su origen se relaciona con la interacción entre factores genéticos y ambientales. Múltiples estudios han explorado factores genéticos tratando de identificar regiones cromosómicas y genes candidatos cuyas variantes se relacionen con una mayor susceptibilidad a la enfermedad. La presente revisión ofrece una visión general de los factores genéticos asociados a la preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and is one of the main causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, affecting 5-7% of pregnancies. In Colombia it is the primary cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, and an important public health issue. Many investigations agree that its origin is related to the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Numerous studies have explored genetic factors in attempt to identify chromosomal regions and candidate genes, variants of which are related with increased susceptibility to the disease. This review offers a general vision of the genetic factors associated with preeclampsia.

Pangénesis y vitalismo científico / No disponible

La hipótesis provisional de la pangénesis se ha interpretado como una explicación materialista y mecanicista de la herencia, seguramente porque Darwin mismo consideraba que las gémulas eran partículas corporales; sin embargo, analizando los principios en los que descansan las conjeturas de la pangénesis podemos ver cómo están entretejidas con nociones del vitalismo científico, principalmente el principio vitalista del nisus formativus de Blumembach

The provisional hipothesis of the pangenesis has been interpreted as a materialist and mechanistic explanation of heritance, surely because Darwin himself considered that the gemmules were corporal praticles; neverthless, analyzing the principles in which these suppositions on pangenesis rest we can aopreciate how they are interlocked with notions of scientific vitalism, mainly Blumenbach´s vitalist principle nisus formativus

Eugenia no Brasil: 1917-1940 / Eugenics in Brazil: 1917-1940

Analisa a eugenia no Brasil, explorando temas centrais da história da ciência tais como as relaçöes entre centro e periferia na produçäo do conhecimento, entre ciência e ideologia e entre estas e as políticas públicas.(AU)

A Fundaçäo Rockefeller e a Emergência da Genética no Brasil (1943-1960) / The Rockefeller Foundation and the rise of Genetics in Brazil (1943-1960)

Coloca que embora a genética clássica tenha se difundido lentamente nas escolas brasileiras de agricultura e de medicina nos anos 20 e 30 do último século, sua implantaçäo definitiva começou somente em 1943 quando Theodosius Dobzhansky começou a pesquisar no Brasil. Todo o processo se iniciou sob a égide da Fundaçäo Rockefeller, que fornecia fundos para equipamentos, auxílios para viagens e bolsas de pós-graduaçäo para os biólogos brasileiros.(AU)

Essence and origin of Mendel's discovery.

In early 19th-century Moravia, breeders of animals and plants joined with other interested citizens in the Moravian and Silesian Agricultural Society to debate economic priorities. Several of the senior members had a profound influence upon breeding theory: J.K. Nestler, Professor of Natural History and Agriculture at the University of Olomouc, left a collection of influential writings. In the context of sheep breeding he defined 'inheritance capacity' (Vererbungsfähigkeit), 'hereditary history' (Vererbungsgeschichte) and 'developmental history' (Entwicklungsgeschichte). His linking of the last two terms, as two sides of the same coin, puts Mendel's use of the second one in context. Professor F. Diebl taught the same topics as Nestler at the Philosophical Institute in Brno, with a bias towards plants. Diebl's lectures were attended by Mendel who gained top marks in three examinations. Diebl stressed the importance of artificial pollination to produce new varieties and recognised peas and beans as suitable subjects for the procedure. Prelate Cyrill Napp, abbot before Mendel, had a deep interest in heredity and how it was transmitted through both sexes. He generously supported Mendel's research. A happy blend of economic and academic influences, together with original talent and inner drive, led to Mendel's great discovery.

[Not Available]. / [Hypothetical ideas on the human heredity and their reflection in Bulgaria]

The first record on the hereditary concepts on the nature of heredity and its mechanism, dates back to the 5th, 6th century B.C. The most prominent representatives are philosophers and people of Medicine, their views reflecting the priority philosophical systems in ancient Hellas. During the Middle Ages pre-formation theories have been the predominant ones with representatives of the two major trends: ovalists and antimaculists. The ancient Hypothetical concepts for the hereditary processes which go back to the Bulgarian Middle Ages are associated with the first Bulgarian Encyclopedia "Shestodnev" by Joan Ekzarh. The hypothetical concepts on the heredity reflect the theoretical concepts of their authors and find their indirect reflection in Bulgaria by way of the literature in translation which has been wide spread. During the period of the Revival there has been wide spread. During the period of the Revival there has been a strong influence on the concepts of P. Beron, D. Mutev and V. Beron exerted by the mechanical paradigm of the 18th Century. There have been spread widely also the descriptions of the hereditary phenomena in the Bulgarian literature of the Revival.

[Not Available]. / Immaginazionismo ed eugenetica in età moderna. Contributo per la storia di un'idea.

Lots of theories about generation up to the XXVII century base themselves on the marvelous power of parents' imagination - the mother's above all - of conveying resemblance to the foetus or conditioning its shape till to the extreme monstruosity. For a long time mother's fancies explain the appearance of naevus, cravings, skin spots, hair colour, congenital deformities and so on. We can recognize one of the grounds of that idea, perhaps the most authoritative, in a biblical passage having Jacob the Patriarch as protagonist. This essay deals with history of the imaginationist theory from Jacob's episode and its following interpretation, with a particular attention for its influence on eugenic doctrines in fashion during the centuries XVI and XVII.