Genetics in the Service of Man' 



By Bentley Glass 



Professor of Biology 

 The Johns Hopkins University 



Human power, which mounted slowly indeed through the eons of 

 prehistory and somewhat more rapidly after the advent of the sword 

 and pen, has gathered momentum with logarithmic sweep since the 

 dawn of modern science. Today it seems to be rocketing into outer 

 space with the incredible energy of atomic fission. 



I would be the last to imply that the principal value in the pursuit 

 of scientific knowledge is the utilitarian one — that society should 

 nurture science only because of its fruits. Yet the fruits are of undeni- 

 able importance, and before we eat, it might be well for us to see upon 

 which side of the tree of good and evil they are borne. Power, espe- 

 cially unlimited power, can be more danger than blessing, and what 

 foresight and intelligence we do possess ought to be exercised in safe- 

 guarding and channeling it into wise uses. Mankind was not prepared 

 to use and control nuclear power. Today we stand on the verge of 

 biological discoveries of an equally revolutionary and potentially 

 devastating kind, which it will require all our wisdom to control. It 

 is these eventualities which I wish to discuss. 



A century ago, when my grandfather was born, the life expectancy 

 of the average male infant was 40 years. At the turn of the century, 

 it was still only 48 years ; but by 1930 it has jumped to 59 years, and 

 today stands at the amazing average of 69 years. Wliatever we may 

 tliink about the wise use made of those extra 29 years of life by the 

 average American man, surely this achievement of medicine and biol- 

 ogy has been spectacular. 



Without recounting here the several steps in the advancement of 

 health and longevity, I wish merely to point out that genetics has 

 contributed its share to this progress. You are certainly aware of the 

 tremendous role of penicillin in virtually wiping out many infectious 

 diseases. In the course of the enormous wartime effort that went into 



' Reprinted by permission from The Johns Hopkins Magazine, vol. 6, No. 5, 

 February 1955. 



299 



