“... There has never been any mention of genes” Department of Genetics at the M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University and Overcoming Lysenkoism (an interview)

This is an interview with a renowned Russian geneticist, Professor Marlen M. Aslanyan, Doctor ofBiological Sciences. His reminiscences are devoted to the role ofthe MSU Chair of Genetics in the revival of genetics and overcoming Lysenkoism. The hero ofour interview has traveled the road from student to professor of the department, witnessed the changes in Soviet biology, and knew many prominent Soviet geneticists. The discussion examines the situation in the era ofLysenkoism, the beginning ofthe revival ofgenetics in the second half of the 1950s, and its subsequent development after 1964. The interview raises a question of respective contributions of the Departments of Genetics of Moscow and Leningrad State Universities to reviving the teaching of genetics. M. M. Aslanyan also
talks about the development of international scientific links of Soviet geneticists. In particular, he shares his impressions from participating in the 13th and 14th International Congresses of Genetics. The interview primarily focuses on Soviet geneticists’ personalities. Aslanyan talks about his working with Dmitry K. Belyaev, Nikolai P. Dubinin, Mikhail E. Lobashev, Vsevolod N. Stoletov, and others.