The Parent Plant 2 J 



Gavauclan Avas more closely associated with cytogenetic asjjects than 

 Havas. 



During the sunniier of 1937, a Swedish geneticist, Dr. A. Levan, 

 visited genetics lalioratories in eastern United States and was shown 

 by Dr. Nebel data obtained from his colchicine studies. When Dr. 

 Levan returned to Sweden, he began experiments with colchicine and 

 made basic contributions to the concepts ol jjolyploidy and colchi- 

 cine mitosis.-'' 



The Cold Sjiring Harbor studies exerted an influence that spread 

 around the world. These activities plus the other biological work 

 created an intense and wide interest that led to the "colchicine fad."^^ 

 Many scientists went to work establishing lacts about colchicine.^*' 

 Generally, the cooperation was genuine, ideas were exchanged freely, 

 mutual problems were discussed, and knowledge advanced rapidly. 

 Significant contributions were made within a short time. 



By 1938 colchicine was applied to man) kinds of living cells, plant 

 and animal, with outstanding specific reactions obtained by the treat- 

 ment. Cancer control continued to be injected into the discussions. 

 Geneticists discovered a very useful tool at their disposal for theoreti- 

 cal and practical work. These data were linked to ])ubli(itv that 

 developed a common language for layman and scientist. 



In spite of volumes published, there remain imexplored problems 

 which appear to have promise for more discoveries. Excellent research 

 has been accomplished; future progress in agriculture, medicine, 

 l^harmacy, biology, and chemistry will be facilitated fjy the possession 

 of such a tool as (Dkhicinc.^i 



REFERENCES 



1. BiRc.NER, A. Studies on colchicine deri\atives. Cancer. 3:134—41. lO'ifl. 



2. Blakeslee, a. Deciouljlement dii nombie de chromosomes chez les planies j)ar- 

 traitement chimi(iiie. C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris. 205:476-79. 1937. 



2a.— . AM) AvERV, A. Methods of indiuins^ doubling of chromosomes in 



plants, jour. Hercd. 28:393-411. 1937. 



3. Broun, G., Hager, V., Goehacisen, M., Grebel, C.. Sweeney, W., and Hellman. 

 R. Remission in Hodgkin"s disease followina; colchicine, desoxycorticosterone 

 and ascorbic acid. jour. Lab. and Clin. Med. 3(i:S()3-4. 1950. 



4. Bri ES. .\. 7 he ellect of colchicine on regenerating li\er. Jour. Phvsiol. 8():63-6l. 

 l9,S(i. 



5. Br^ AN, C. The Papyrus Ebers. Appleton & Co., New York. 1931. 



(i. BiLEiNCH, T. The age of fables. Thomas Crowell, New York. 1905. 



7. Chopra, R. Indigenous drugs of India. .Arts Press, Calcutta, India. 1933. 



K. Cohen. A.. Cook. (., and Roe, E. Colchicine and lelated coinpoiuuls. Cliem. 

 .Soc. London Jour.' 1910:194-97. 1940. 

 - 9. C;ooK. J., AND Loudon, J. .\lkaloids: colchicine. Kd. Holmes jL- Mankse. .Aca- 

 demic Press, .New York. 2:261-325. 1951. 



10. Dermen, H. Colchicine, polyploidy and technique. Bot. Re\ . 6:599-635. 1910. 



11. DoERiNc;. W., \M> K\()\, L. Svntiiesis of tropolone. Joui. Anu-r. Chcni. Soc. 

 72:205. 1950. 



