Typescripts of Auerbach and J.M. Robson's reports to the Ministry of Supply, 1942-1943
File — Box: CLX-A-1536, Box: data_value_missing_ac2d10756589e21699904cb7562c2ee4, Box: data_value_missing_30c432e52eb8b409b700f670c90b4e31
Identifier: Coll-1266/4/4
Scope and Contents
Contains: Report 1: 'Experiments on the Action of Mustard Gas in Drosophila: production of sterility and mutations' by Charlotte Auerbach and J.M. Robson (March 1942)Report 2: 'Experiments on the Action of Mustard Gas in Drosophila: genetical differences in susceptibility' by Charlotte Auerbach and J.M. Robson (June 1942)Report 3: 'Experiments on the Action of Mustard Gas in Drosophila: proof that mustard gas acts directly on the chromosomes' by Charlotte Auerbach and J.M. Robson (June 1942)Report 4: 'Experiments on the Action of Mustard Gas in Drosophila: the induction of visible mutations' by Charlotte Auerbach and J.M. Robson (June 1942)Report 5: Extra-mural Research - Dr J.M. Robson. Experiments on the action of toxic gases on Drosophila melanogaster' by Charlotte Auerbach, M.Y. Ansari and J.M. Robson (December 1943)
Dates
- 1942-1943
Creator
Language of Materials
From the Collection:
English, German, Russian
Conditions Governing Access
This material is open.
Biographical / Historical
In 1940, Auerbach began work on the effect of mustard gas on gene mutation, together with Pio Koller. The work was initially suggested by A.J. Clark of the Pharmacology Department at the University of Edinburgh, who had a contract with the Chemical Defence Establishment of the War Office to study the biological effects of mustard gas. Auerbach and Koller teamed up with Clark and J.M. Robson in Pharmacology to expose Drosophila flies to mustard gas. Striking results were obtained almost immediately, and by 1942 they could show conclusively that mustard gas was mutagenic. Due to the confidential nature of the work, the findings were not published until 1946 in a series of joint papers by Auerbach and Robson. Auerbach received the prestigious Keith Prize of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, but the credit she was to receive for the work caused great annoyance to Robson, despite Auerbach's assertion that the Prize should have been awarded jointly.
Extent
1 file
Creator
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
is-crc@ed.ac.uk
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
is-crc@ed.ac.uk