Barbara McClintock: Obscurity and Passion

            Chapter one’s focus in McClintock’s biography seems to be on the state of the sciences, namely biology, during her lifetime.  It is important to note that McClintock experienced multiple revolutions in biology, followed by periods in which scientists remained firmly assured with previous theories.  However, as more of a naturalist, McClintock did not fail to suggest an idea like transposition, even though it starkly challenged the unidirectionality of the  “central dogma” as coined by Crick.  This biography does not seem to suggest that McClintock performed her unpopular work out of fearlessness, but rather that she was simply an “impeccable investigator” (p. 10).

            Reading this biography induced comparisons to our previous readings.  In terms of popularity and recognition, there is a large difference between Darwin/Franklin and McClintock.  I’ll admit that before this class, the name was only faintly familiar.  While we can read the autobiographies of Franklin and Darwin, much of the primary writings of McClintock involve her scientific work.  For this reason, Keller’s job in writing McClintock’s story is unfathomably huge. The complexities of scientific virtue range from the wrinkled clothes of Darwin to the neatly pressed clothes of McClintock.  While McClintock’s story may require more active investigation, understanding how she performed her work is significant in realizing what scientific values she upheld.

            A more explicit point I took from the opening chapters of this biography was McClintock’s parents’ encouragement to follow passions with the utmost severity.  It seems that McClintock learned to pursue that which excited her.  Luckily for the world of biology, that passion was science.  Her development does beg the following question though: is any part of required education a factor that stifles real passion for knowledge?  I understand that a range of subjects needs to be presented to adolescent students for them to experience all possibilities.  However, I’m not sure that required education does not “burn out” young learners.