T. H. Morgan's resistance to the chromosome theory

Abstract

The history of science often emphasizes the great discoveries, but neglects to mention that many aspects of these discoveries were frequently known in advance. Such was the case for the chromosome theory of inheritance. Although the behaviour of the chromosome in fertilization and cell development was known before Thomas Hunt Morgan's work, its role in the inheritance of particulate traits was not appreciated. Morgan's relationship with the chromosome theory of inheritance provides a good case study to illustrate how theoretical issues can both impede and facilitate science.