Karl Sax
Encyclopedia
Karl Sax was an American
botanist and geneticist, in particular he was noted for his research in cytogenetics
and the effect of radiation on chromosome
s.
Karl Sax was born in Spokane, Washington
, his parents were pioneer farmers in the eastern part of the state, and active in civic affairs. His father was the mayor of Colville, Washington
. Sax's early education was in the Colville schools, and in 1912 he continued his studies at Washington State College . He majored in agriculture
, and his subsequent decision to undertake graduate masters study was influenced by the botanist and plant breeder Edward Gaines there. At college he met and married Dr. Hally Jolivette, his cytology
teacher, and they later had three sons. Following his graduation, his wife Dr. Jolivette accepted a position at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts
and they moved to the East Coast in 1916. Sax enrolled in the doctoral program at the Bussey Institution Graduate School of Applied Biology at Harvard University
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
and completed his MA
in 1917. He served as a Private in the US Army from 1917 to 1918 in [WWI].
In 1918 after his war service he was employed as an instructor in the Department of Genetics at the University of California, Berkeley
, where he worked with E. B. Babcock
on the genetics of the genus Crepis
. In 1920 he took an appointment at the Riverbank Laboratories in Geneva, Illinois
working on wheat genetics, but he moved on from that job soon after when he took a position at the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station
in Orono, Maine
. During this period he was also undertaking his doctoral dissertation through Harvard University
and received his D.Sc. in 1922. Later, in 1928, he left the Agricultural Station in Orono to take a teaching position in Harvard's genetics department at the Bussey Institution. Before his arrival the department had been dissolved, and he transferred to the cytology department at the University's Biological Laboratories in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
In 1938 Karl Sax published a paper entitled "Chromosome Aberrations Induced by X-rays," which demonstrated that radiation could induce major genetic
changes by affecting Chromosomal translocations, a chromosome abnormality. The paper is thought to mark the beginning of the field of radiation cytology, and led him to be called the "father of radiation cytology".
Sax also bred new varieties of ornamental trees and shrubs including Malus domestica-apples
, Malus species-crabapples
, magnolia
s, and forsythias, and Prunus-cherries
. He hybridized a cross between the Japanese cherry Prunus subhirtella
and Prunus apetela which he named Prunus x 'Hally Jolivette' in honor of his wife. and a cultivar of Forsythia
bred by Sax was named "Karl Sax" by a nurserymen. In 1946 he was appointed acting director of Harvard's Arnold Arboretum, in 1947 becoming the director – a post he held until 1954.
Sax was also interested in human demography, in 1955 he wrote Standing Room Only: The Challenge to Overpopulation, on the consequences of uncontrolled human population growth. Sax became associated with Planned Parenthood
and was a member of the Population Association of America. Sax was an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences
and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
.
In 1959 he retired and moved to Media, Pennsylvania
where he continued his work on plant breeding.
Karl Sax died on October 8, 1973.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
botanist and geneticist, in particular he was noted for his research in cytogenetics
Cytogenetics
Cytogenetics is a branch of genetics that is concerned with the study of the structure and function of the cell, especially the chromosomes. It includes routine analysis of G-Banded chromosomes, other cytogenetic banding techniques, as well as molecular cytogenetics such as fluorescent in situ...
and the effect of radiation on chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
s.
Karl Sax was born in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, his parents were pioneer farmers in the eastern part of the state, and active in civic affairs. His father was the mayor of Colville, Washington
Colville, Washington
Colville is a city in Stevens County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,673 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stevens County.- History :...
. Sax's early education was in the Colville schools, and in 1912 he continued his studies at Washington State College . He majored in agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, and his subsequent decision to undertake graduate masters study was influenced by the botanist and plant breeder Edward Gaines there. At college he met and married Dr. Hally Jolivette, his cytology
Cell biology
Cell biology is a scientific discipline that studies cells – their physiological properties, their structure, the organelles they contain, interactions with their environment, their life cycle, division and death. This is done both on a microscopic and molecular level...
teacher, and they later had three sons. Following his graduation, his wife Dr. Jolivette accepted a position at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of Greater Boston. The population was 27,982 at the time of the 2010 census.It is best known as the home of Wellesley College and Babson College...
and they moved to the East Coast in 1916. Sax enrolled in the doctoral program at the Bussey Institution Graduate School of Applied Biology at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
and completed his MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1917. He served as a Private in the US Army from 1917 to 1918 in [WWI].
In 1918 after his war service he was employed as an instructor in the Department of Genetics at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, where he worked with E. B. Babcock
E. B. Babcock
Ernest Brown Babcock was an United States plant geneticist. His pioneering work on the genetics of the genus Crepis and his more than 100 published articles explaining plant evolution primarily in terms of genetics mark him as a pioneer in the application of genetics research.- References :*...
on the genetics of the genus Crepis
Crepis
Crepis, commonly known in some parts of the world as hawksbeard or hawk's-beard , is a genus of about 200 annual and perennial flowering plants of the family Asteraceae superficially resembling the dandelion, the most conspicuous difference being that Crepis usually has branching...
. In 1920 he took an appointment at the Riverbank Laboratories in Geneva, Illinois
Geneva, Illinois
Geneva is the county seat of Kane County, Illinois. It is located on the western fringe of the Chicago suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 26,652. Geneva is part of a tri-city area, along with St. Charles and Batavia...
working on wheat genetics, but he moved on from that job soon after when he took a position at the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station
Agricultural experiment station
An agricultural experiment station is a research center that conducts scientific investigations to solve problems and suggest improvements in the food and agriculture industry...
in Orono, Maine
Orono, Maine
Orono is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It was first settled in 1774 and named in honor of Chief Joseph Orono of the Penobscot Nation. It is home to The University of Maine. The population was 10,362 at the 2010 census.- Geography :...
. During this period he was also undertaking his doctoral dissertation through Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and received his D.Sc. in 1922. Later, in 1928, he left the Agricultural Station in Orono to take a teaching position in Harvard's genetics department at the Bussey Institution. Before his arrival the department had been dissolved, and he transferred to the cytology department at the University's Biological Laboratories in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
changes by affecting Chromosomal translocations, a chromosome abnormality. The paper is thought to mark the beginning of the field of radiation cytology, and led him to be called the "father of radiation cytology".
Sax also bred new varieties of ornamental trees and shrubs including Malus domestica-apples
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
, Malus species-crabapples
Malus
Malus , the apples, are a genus of about 30–35 species of small deciduous trees or shrubs in the family Rosaceae. Other studies go as far as 55 species including the domesticated Orchard Apple, or Table apple as it was formerly called...
, magnolia
Magnolia
Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. It is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol....
s, and forsythias, and Prunus-cherries
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of trees and shrubs, which includes the plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds. There are around 430 species spread throughout the northern temperate regions of the globe. Many members of the genus are widely cultivated for fruit and ornament.-Botany:Members of the genus...
. He hybridized a cross between the Japanese cherry Prunus subhirtella
Prunus subhirtella
Prunus subhirtella, sometimes also called Spring Cherry, Higan cherry, or Rosebud cherry is a small tree originating in Japan, but unknown in the wild. It is probably of hybrid origin between Prunus incisa and Prunus spachiana....
and Prunus apetela which he named Prunus x 'Hally Jolivette' in honor of his wife. and a cultivar of Forsythia
Forsythia
Forsythia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Oleaceae . There are about 11 species, mostly native to eastern Asia, but one native to southeastern Europe. The common name is also Forsythia; the genus is named after William Forsyth.-Growth:They are deciduous shrubs typically growing to a...
bred by Sax was named "Karl Sax" by a nurserymen. In 1946 he was appointed acting director of Harvard's Arnold Arboretum, in 1947 becoming the director – a post he held until 1954.
Sax was also interested in human demography, in 1955 he wrote Standing Room Only: The Challenge to Overpopulation, on the consequences of uncontrolled human population growth. Sax became associated with Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
and was a member of the Population Association of America. Sax was an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
.
In 1959 he retired and moved to Media, Pennsylvania
Media, Pennsylvania
The borough of Media is the county seat of Delaware County, Pennsylvania and is located west of Philadelphia. Media was incorporated in 1850 at the same time that it was named the county seat. The population was 5,533 at the 2000 census. Its school district is the Rose Tree Media School District...
where he continued his work on plant breeding.
Karl Sax died on October 8, 1973.
External links
- Biographical Memoir of Karl Sax written by Carl P. Swanson and Norman H. Giles for the U.S. National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of SciencesThe National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, a superb source of information about Sax and his work