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Theodosius Dobzhansky Facts & Worksheets

Theodosius Dobzhansky was a Ukrainian-American geneticist and evolutionary biologist whose work in evolutionary biology was central to research on genetics and evolutionary theory in the 20th century.

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Theodosius Dobzhansky was a Ukrainian-American geneticist and evolutionary biologist whose work in evolutionary biology was central to research on genetics and evolutionary theory in the 20th century. His 1937 book Genetics and the Origin of Species was a major influence on the modern synthesis which reconciled Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and Gregor Mendel’s ideas on heredity.

See the fact file below for more information on the Theodosius Dobzhansky or alternatively, you can download our 26-page Theodosius Dobzhansky worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION

  • Theodosius Grygorovych Dobzhansky was born on January 25, 1900, in Nemirov, Russia, a small town located southeast of Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine.
  • He was the only child of Grigory Dobzhansky, a high school mathematics teacher, and Sophia Voinarsky.
  • He was named after St. Theodosius of Chernigov to whom his parents prayed for a child.
  • Theodosius and his parents moved to Kiev in 1910.
  • As a child, Theodosius had a passion for collecting butterflies and participating in outdoor activities.
  • In high school, he decided he wanted to become a biologist.
  • In 1917, Theodosius Dobzhansky enrolled in the University of Kiev to study biology; he graduated in 1921.
  • After graduation, Dobzhansky accepted a position as a zoology instructor at the Polytechnic Institute of Kiev.
  • In 1924, he moved to Saint Petersburg, Russia to study and work as an assistant to Yuri Filipchenko, head of the genetics department at the University of Saint Petersburg.
  • On August 8, 1924, he married geneticist Natalia Sivertzeva who was working with II Schmalhausen in Kiev, Ukraine.
  • The couple had one daughter, Sophie, who later became an anthropologist and food historian.

MOVE TO THE UNITED STATES

  • In Saint Petersburg, Dobzhansky’s studies focused on the emerging field of genetics, particularly by conducting extensive research on the fruit fly.
  • He published 35 scientific works on genetics and entomology before moving to the United States of America.
  • In 1927, Dobzhansky was awarded a scholarship International Education Board of the Rockefeller Foundation to work in the United States.
  • Upon immigrating to the United States, he joined the Drosophila Group at Columbia University in New York City, working with zoologist Thomas Hunt Morgan.
  • In Morgan’s laboratory, Dobzhansky learned the study of chromosome banding structures, which proved valuable in his later studies of evolution in the Drosophila population.
  • A year later, he accompanied Morgan to the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, working initially as an assistant professor in genetics.

GENETICS AND THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES

  • In 1933, Dobzhansky began his field studies in the genetics of the Drosophila pseudoobscura population.
  • The results of his study was published in his 1937 book Genetics and the Origin of Species which combined Darwinian theory of evolution and modern genetics. This became the most influential and important book on evolutionary biology of the 20th century.
  • Dobzhansky became a United States citizen in 1937.
  • His book included his views on speciation, stating how new species evolve from existing species.
  • His work highlighted how most recent discoveries in genetics applied to the concept of evolution.
  • He described the processes of evolutionary population genetics using three levels: the origin of raw substances by mutations of genes, the changes in populations by changes in combinations and frequency of mutations, and the fixation of changes by reproductive isolation.

CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

  • In 1940, Dobzhansky returned to Columbia University as a professor of zoology, where he remained until 1962.
  • In 1962, he moved to Rockefeller Institute, later known as Rockefeller University, where he worked until he retired in 1970.
  • Dobzhansky also wrote about the product of evolution and human variation in general as seen in his 1962 work entitled Mankind Evolving.
  • Speciation was another topic that Dobzhansky studied extensively. This is the process by which a species does not simply change its characteristics over time but evolves into two or more species.
  • His other works such as The Biological Basis of Human Freedom (1956) and The Biology of Ultimate Concern (1967) demonstrated his interest in and insights into the nature of humans and evolution.
  • In addition to being an accomplished writer, lecturer, and biologist, Dobzhansky also took pride in the specimens he had collected from his expeditions to different continents with the exception of Antarctica.
  • Scientists from all over the world came to Dobzhansky’s laboratory to learn his approach to research.

LATER LIFE AND DEATH

  • Theodosius Dobzhansky became professor emeritus following his official retirement from Rockefeller University in 1970.
  • Following his retirement, he moved to the University of California at Davis as a supervisor.
  • Dobzhansky was diagnosed with lymphocytic leukemia.
  • He was awarded the US National Medal of Science in 1964, and the Franklin Medal in 1973.
  • At 75 years old, Dobzhansky died on December 18, 1975.

Theodosius Dobzhansky Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Theodosius Dobzhansky across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Theodosius Dobzhansky worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Theodosius Dobzhansky who was a Ukrainian-American geneticist and evolutionary biologist whose work in evolutionary biology was central to research on genetics and evolutionary theory in the 20th century. His 1937 book Genetics and the Origin of Species was a major influence on the modern synthesis which reconciled Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and Gregor Mendel’s ideas on heredity.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Theodosius Dobzhansky Facts
  • Biographical Notes
  • True or False?
  • Applicable Titles
  • Vocabulary Match
  • Sequencing Events
  • Dobzhansky Quotes
  • Achievement Checklist
  • Important Geneticists
  • Quick Q&A
  • Interview Time

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