Inhaltsreiche jahre eines humangenetikers. Mein lebensweg in bildern und dokumenten (eventful years of a human geneticist. My life in pictures and documents). Gerhard Koch. Erlangen: Perimed-Verlag, 1982. 472 pp., 94 Figures. DM 38,00
✍ Scribed by Neuhäser, Gerhard
- Book ID
- 101444258
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1983
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 119 KB
- Volume
- 16
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0148-7299
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
studied principles and methods of anthropology and genetics with Hans Nachsheim, Luigi Gedda, and von Verschuer. He soon developed a reputation for his outstanding work in the genetics of the epilepsies, on the phakomatoses, microcephaly, and other neurogenetic conditions, to name just a few topics from his productive research career. Long-term twin studies were completed recently and also give insight into genetic factors involved in the pathogenesis of malignant diseases. From a sure knowledge of basic genetics and the clinical literature, using his admirable collection of journals, books, and reprints, and relying on extensive clinical experience, he wrote many excellent reviews including contributions to Becker's "Humangenetik" (Vol. V/1 and Vol. V/2) and to the "Handbook of Clinical Neurology" (Vol. 14). During the last few years he has compiled useful bibliographies on various topics in human genetics (cf., Am J Med Genet 3:397, 1979); volumes 15 and 16 in this series, dealing with "von Hippel-Lindau disease" and "the acusticus neurinoma," were published in 1982.
And shortly before his 70th birthday Gerhard Koch is offering us his biography. It is unique and outstanding in the way in which it demonstrates the most important events of his professional life with its various historical ramifications, difficulties and successes by way of pictures and documents, using a few words and only a brief introductory text. Thus, the book is of interest for the non-German observer, as it is for everyone who is interested in the history of human genetics in the 20th century.
He rapidly takes us from his place of birth in Neubrandenburg to the years of medical training at the Universities of Rostock, Konigsberg, and Breslau, and to the time of special training in neurology, psychiatry, and genetics in and near Berlin. The book illuminates vividly all of the difficulties a medical geneticist had to master during the years in Germany before, during, and after the war. It further shows through documents and selected reports how professional and personal experiences are admixed richly with topics of common interest: The biography contains a wealth of documents which are difficult to find elsewhere and which illustrate many aspects of life in Germany and Europe during and after the war. It demonstrates clearly that cooperation is indispensable before geneticists can attain progress across the borders of disciplines and nationalities.