Lewis Stadler
Encyclopedia
Lewis John Stadler was an American
geneticist. His research focused on the mutagenic effects of different forms of radiation on economically important plants like maize
and barley
.
, in 1896 and, after taking a B.S. in agriculture at the University of Florida
(1917), earned the A.M. (1918), and Ph.D. (1922), at the University of Missouri
. He joined the Department of Field Crops faculty in 1922, and remained at Missouri until 1954, acting as visiting professor at the California Institute of Technology
(1940), and Yale University
(1950). Beginning in 1930 he simultaneously held an appointment with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Academic honors included the presidencies of the Genetics Society of America
, American Society of Naturalists
, and Sigma Xi
.
While Stadler spent almost all his academic life at the University of Missouri
he was also involved in activities with a wider scope. During the 1930s Stadler was involved in efforts to bring European scientists to the U.S. to escape Nazism. In 1948 Stadler was appointed a delegate to the Eighth International Congress of Genetics, meeting in Stockholm. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, however, rejected his passport application and conducted a loyalty investigation; Stadler at first thought it was a State Department action.
Stadler married Cornelia Field Tuckerman in 1919, and they had six children: Maury Tuckerman, Henry Lewis, David Ross, John Brandeis, Eliot Tuckerman, and Joan.
Stadler's work in genetics
concentrated upon the study of mutation
in corn
. He did much work on the effects of X-ray
treatments, and did comparative studies of mutation caused by X-rays and by ultraviolet rays. His work earned him an international reputation.
He died of leukemia
in 1954.
In his honor, the University of Missouri
holds the Stadler Genetics Symposium every two years.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
geneticist. His research focused on the mutagenic effects of different forms of radiation on economically important plants like maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
and barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
.
Background
Lewis John Stadler was born in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, in 1896 and, after taking a B.S. in agriculture at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
(1917), earned the A.M. (1918), and Ph.D. (1922), at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
. He joined the Department of Field Crops faculty in 1922, and remained at Missouri until 1954, acting as visiting professor at the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
(1940), and Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
(1950). Beginning in 1930 he simultaneously held an appointment with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Academic honors included the presidencies of the Genetics Society of America
Genetics Society of America
The Genetics Society of America is a scholarly membership society of more than 4000 genetics researchers and educators, established in 1931...
, American Society of Naturalists
American Society of Naturalists
The American Society of Naturalists was founded in 1883 and is one of the oldest professional societies dedicated to the biological sciences in North America...
, and Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society is a non-profit honor society which was founded in 1886 at Cornell University by a junior faculty member and a handful of graduate students. Members elect others on the basis of their research achievements or potential...
.
While Stadler spent almost all his academic life at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
he was also involved in activities with a wider scope. During the 1930s Stadler was involved in efforts to bring European scientists to the U.S. to escape Nazism. In 1948 Stadler was appointed a delegate to the Eighth International Congress of Genetics, meeting in Stockholm. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, however, rejected his passport application and conducted a loyalty investigation; Stadler at first thought it was a State Department action.
Stadler married Cornelia Field Tuckerman in 1919, and they had six children: Maury Tuckerman, Henry Lewis, David Ross, John Brandeis, Eliot Tuckerman, and Joan.
Stadler's work in genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
concentrated upon the study of mutation
Mutation
In molecular biology and genetics, mutations are changes in a genomic sequence: the DNA sequence of a cell's genome or the DNA or RNA sequence of a virus. They can be defined as sudden and spontaneous changes in the cell. Mutations are caused by radiation, viruses, transposons and mutagenic...
in corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
. He did much work on the effects of X-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
treatments, and did comparative studies of mutation caused by X-rays and by ultraviolet rays. His work earned him an international reputation.
He died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in 1954.
In his honor, the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
holds the Stadler Genetics Symposium every two years.