Cytogenetics / edited by Ronald L. Phillips, Charles R. Burnham.

Date:
[1977], ©1977
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Credit: Cytogenetics / edited by Ronald L. Phillips, Charles R. Burnham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    9/520 (page V)
    SERIES EDITOR'S FOREWORD The study of any discipline assumes mastery of the literature of the subject. In many branches of science, even one as new as genetics, the expansion of knowledge has been so rapid that there is little hope of learn¬ ing of the development of all phases of the subject. The student has dif¬ ficulty mastering the textbook, the young scholar must tend to the litera¬ ture near his own research, the young instructor barely finds time to expand his horizons to meet his class preparation requirements, the monographer copes with a wider literature but usually from a specialized viewpoint, and the textbook author is forced to cover much the same materials as previous and competing texts to respond to the user's needs and abilities. Few publishers have the dedication to scholarship needed to serve the limited market of advanced studies. The opportunity to assist profes¬ sionals at all stages of their careers has been recognized by the publishers of the Benchmark series and by a distinguished group of Benchmark volume editors knowledgeable in specific aspects of the genetics litera¬ ture. Some have contributed greatly to the development of that literature, some have studied with the early scholars, and some have developed and are in the process of developing entirely new fields of genetic knowl¬ edge. In many cases the judgments of the editors become a historical document that records their opinion of the important steps in the de¬ velopment of the subject. The editors of this volume have selected papers and portions of papers that demonstrate both the development of knowl¬ edge and the atmosphere in which that knowledge was developed. There is no substitute for reading great papers. Here you can learn how ques¬ tions are asked, how they are approached, and how difficult and essential it is to obtain definitive answers and clear writing. My own pleasure in working with this distinguished panel is exceeded only by the consider¬ able pleasure of reading their remarks and their selections. Their dedica¬ tion and wisdom are impressive. The editors of this volume have been particularly thoughtful of the reader of the selections. They have provided both a historical perspective and an extensive bibliography of each section. This review serves as an introduction to the important literature that provided the significant V