Charlotte "Lotte" Auerbach
FRS FRSE
Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) is an award granted to individuals that the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's national academy of science and letters, judged to be "eminently distinguished in their subject". This soci ...
(14 May 1899 – 17 March 1994) was a German
geneticist
A geneticist is a biologist or physician who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a scientist or a lecturer. Geneticists may perform general research on genetic processe ...
who contributed to founding the science of
mutagenesis
Mutagenesis () is a process by which the genetic information of an organism is changed by the production of a mutation. It may occur spontaneously in nature, or as a result of exposure to mutagens. It can also be achieved experimentally using la ...
. She became well known after 1942 when she discovered with
A. J. Clark and
J. M. Robson
John Michael 'Rab' Rabinovich FRSE FRCS FRCSE LLD (1900–18 February 1982) was a geneticist and physicist who co-founded the science of mutagenesis by mutations in Drosophila melanogaster, fruit flies exposed to mustard gas. He was Professor at ...
that
mustard gas
Mustard gas or sulfur mustard is a chemical compound belonging to a family of cytotoxic and blister agents known as mustard agents. The name ''mustard gas'' is technically incorrect: the substance, when dispersed, is often not actually a gas, b ...
could cause
mutation
In biology, a mutation is an alteration in the nucleic acid sequence of the genome of an organism, virus, or extrachromosomal DNA. Viral genomes contain either DNA or RNA. Mutations result from errors during DNA or viral replication, mi ...
s in
fruit flies
Fruit fly may refer to:
Organisms
* Drosophilidae, a family of small flies, including:
** ''Drosophila'', the genus of small fruit flies and vinegar flies
** ''Drosophila melanogaster'' or common fruit fly
** ''Drosophila suzukii'' or Asian fruit ...
. She wrote 91 scientific papers, and was a Fellow of the
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity that operates on a wholly independent and non-partisan basis and provides public benefit throughout Scotland. It was established i ...
and of the
Royal Society of London
The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...
.
In 1976, she was awarded the Royal Society's
Darwin Medal
The Darwin Medal is one of the medals awarded by the Royal Society for "distinction in evolution, biological diversity and developmental, population and organismal biology".
In 1885, International Darwin Memorial Fund was transferred to the ...
. Aside her scientific contributions and love of science, she was remarkable in many other ways, including her wide interests, independence, modesty, and transparent honesty.
Early life and education
Charlotte Auerbach was born in
Krefeld
Krefeld ( , ; li, Krieëvel ), also spelled Crefeld until 1925 (though the spelling was still being used in British papers throughout the Second World War), is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, i ...
in Germany, the daughter of Selma Sachs and
Friedrich Auerbach
Friedrich Auerbach (23 August 1870, Breslau – 4 August 1925) was a German chemist. He was the son of anatomist Leopold Auerbach and the brother of physicist Felix Auerbach. He was the father of geneticist Charlotte Auerbach.
Biography
He ...
. She may have been influenced by the scientists in her family: her father Friedrich Auerbach (1870–1925) was a
chemist
A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe th ...
, her uncle a
physicist
A physicist is a scientist who specializes in the field of physics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe.
Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate caus ...
, and her grandfather, the
anatomist
Anatomy () is the branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts. Anatomy is a branch of natural science that deals with the structural organization of living things. It is an old science, having its ...
Leopold Auerbach
Leopold Auerbach (27 April 1828 – 30 September 1897) was a German anatomist and neuropathologist born in Breslau.
Education and career
Auerbach studied medicine at the Universities of Breslau, Berlin and the Leipzig. He became a physician in ...
.
She studied biology and chemistry at the universities of
Würzburg
Würzburg (; Main-Franconian: ) is a city in the region of Franconia in the north of the German state of Bavaria. Würzburg is the administrative seat of the ''Regierungsbezirk'' Lower Franconia. It spans the banks of the Main River.
Würzburg is ...
,
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau (; abbreviated as Freiburg i. Br. or Freiburg i. B.; Low Alemannic: ''Friburg im Brisgau''), commonly referred to as Freiburg, is an independent city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. With a population of about 230,000 (as o ...
and
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
.
She was taught and inspired by
Karl Michael Haider
Karl Michael Haider (1846–1912), was a Bavarian landscape and portrait painter.
Early life and education
Haider was born on 6 February 1846 in Munich, the son to Max Haider (1807–1873), a forester from Anzing, and his wife Therese Fäß ...
and Max Hartmann in Berlin, and later in Würzburg by
Hans Kniep
Karl Johannes Kniep (3 April 1881 – 17 November 1930) was a German botanist who was a native of Jena.
He studied medicine at the University of Kiel, and botany in Jena with Christian Ernst Stahl (1848-1919), where in 1904 he received his doctora ...
. After very good examinations in biology, chemistry, and physics, she initially decided to become a secondary-school teacher of science, passing the exams for that, with distinction in 1924.
She taught in
Heidelberg
Heidelberg (; Palatine German language, Palatine German: ''Heidlberg'') is a city in the States of Germany, German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the river Neckar in south-west Germany. As of the 2016 census, its population was 159,914 ...
(1924–1925) and briefly at the
University of Frankfurt, from which she was dismissed – probably because she was Jewish. In 1928 she started postgraduate research at the
Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Biology (Berlin-Dahlem) in Developmental Physiology under Otto Mangold. In 1929 she abandoned her work with Mangold: he would later join the
Nazi party
The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right politics, far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that crea ...
, and Auerbach found his dictatorial manner unpleasant. In reply to her suggestion to change direction of her project, he replied "You are my student, you do as I say. What you think is of no consequence!".
She again taught biology in several schools in Berlin – until the Nazi party ended this by law as she was Jewish.
Following her mother's advice, she left the country in 1933 and fled to
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
where she got her PhD in 1935 at the
Institute of Animal Genetics in the
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...
. She would stay affiliated to this Institute throughout her whole career.
Research career: Edinburgh
Auerbach's PhD dissertation was on the development of legs in ''
Drosophila
''Drosophila'' () is a genus of flies, belonging to the family Drosophilidae, whose members are often called "small fruit flies" or (less frequently) pomace flies, vinegar flies, or wine flies, a reference to the characteristic of many species ...
''.
After her dissertation she became a personal assistant to
Francis Albert Eley Crew
Francis Albert Eley Crew FRS FRSE LLD (2 March 1886 – 26 May 1973) was an English animal geneticist. He was a pioneer in his field leading to the University of Edinburgh’s place as a world leader in the science of animal genetics. He was t ...
, who connected her to the lively group of scientists he had assembled, and to invited scientists including
Julian Huxley
Sir Julian Sorell Huxley (22 June 1887 – 14 February 1975) was an English evolutionary biologist, eugenicist, and internationalist. He was a proponent of natural selection, and a leading figure in the mid-twentieth century modern synthesis. ...
,
J.B.S. Haldane
John Burdon Sanderson Haldane (; 5 November 18921 December 1964), nicknamed "Jack" or "JBS", was a British-Indian scientist who worked in physiology, genetics, evolutionary biology, and mathematics. With innovative use of statistics in biolog ...
, and most importantly to Lotte, to
Hermann Joseph Muller
Hermann Joseph Muller (December 21, 1890 – April 5, 1967) was an American geneticist, educator, and Nobel laureate best known for his work on the physiological and genetic effects of radiation (mutagenesis), as well as his outspoken political ...
.
The famous geneticist and mutation researcher stayed in Edinburgh 1938–1940 and introduced her to mutation research.
Initially, she refused to work with Muller when Crew told her to do so. Muller, however, who was present when she opposed her boss, assured her that he would only want to work with people who are interested in the projects. But since she was interested in how genes operate, Muller noted that to understand this it would be important to understand what happens if the genes are mutated – this convinced her.
She said herself "His enthusiasm for mutation research was infectious and from that day on I switched to mutation research. I have never regretted it."
Auerbach's genetic mutation research remained unpublished for many years because the work with mustard gas was considered
classified by the government. She was finally able to publish in 1947.
After being an assistant instructor in animal genetics, Auerbach became a lecturer in 1947, Professor of Genetics in 1967 and ended her professional career as a Professor Emeritus in 1969.
Teaching
While she found teaching at the schools sometimes difficult, she enjoyed teaching at the University and her lectures were models of clarity, usually delivered without any notes. She spoke with authority, but she did not mind questions, and allowed time for discussions.
She wrote several books to teach genetics, several of them were translated in other languages. Her book, ''Genetics in the Atomic Age'' (1956) was praised by ''
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
The ''Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists'' is a nonprofit organization concerning science and global security issues resulting from accelerating technological advances that have negative consequences for humanity. The ''Bulletin'' publishes conte ...
'' for her excellent explanations of "an inherently technical matter."
Positions
She supported the
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is an organisation that advocates unilateral nuclear disarmament by the United Kingdom, international nuclear disarmament and tighter international arms regulation through agreements such as the Nucle ...
(CND), was a fierce opponent of apartheid, and a confirmed liberal.
In 1947, she published a book of
fairy stories
A fairy tale (alternative names include fairytale, fairy story, magic tale, or wonder tale) is a short story that belongs to the folklore genre. Such stories typically feature magic, enchantments, and mythical or fanciful beings. In most cul ...
titled ''Adventures with Rosalind'' under the pen-name of Charlotte Austen.
Personal life
Charlotte was an only child, born into a third-generation Jewish family who had lived for several generations in
Breslau. Having fled Nazi Germany in 1933, she became a naturalised British citizen in 1939.
Auerbach never married and had no children of her own. She unofficially 'adopted' two boys. One, Michael Avern, was the child of a German-speaking companion to her own elderly mother, who had escaped to Britain as well. She helped to raise Michael. The other, Angelo Alecci, came from a poor Sicilian family and the
Save the Children
The Save the Children Fund, commonly known as Save the Children, is an international non-governmental organization established in the United Kingdom in 1919 to improve the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic ...
Fund connected Charlotte with him.
She was Jewish.
Later life and death
In 1989, aged 90, she gave her house in Edinburgh to Michael Avern and moved into the Abbeyfield Home in Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh, which was operated by the church. She died there five years later, in 1994. She was cremated at
Mortonhall
Mortonhall is an area of Edinburgh, Scotland, on the south edge of the city.
The area is along the western end of the Frogston Road between Fairmilehead and Gilmerton; it is just to the south of Liberton and the Braid Hills.
The area was ...
Crematorium.
Awards, honors, and distinctions
![Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Charlotte_Auerbach_Road%2C_Edinburgh.JPG)
* Keith Prize, Royal Society of Edinburgh (1947)
*
Fellow of Royal Society of Edinburgh (1949)
*
Fellow of the Royal Society
Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...
(1957)
* Foreign Member,
Danish Academy of Science (1968)
* Foreign Member,
National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, non-governmental organization. NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the Nati ...
(1970)
* Honorary degrees,
Leiden University
Leiden University (abbreviated as ''LEI''; nl, Universiteit Leiden) is a Public university, public research university in Leiden, Netherlands. The university was founded as a Protestant university in 1575 by William the Silent, William, Prince o ...
(1975),
Trinity College, Dublin
, name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin
, motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin)
, motto_lang = la
, motto_English = It will last i ...
(1976),
University of Cambridge
, mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts.
Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.
, established =
, other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
(1976),
Indiana University
Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana.
Campuses
Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI.
*Indiana Universit ...
(1984)
* Darwin Medal, Royal Society (1976)
* Fellow, United Kingdom Environmental Mutagen Society (1978)
* Prix de d'Institut de la Vie (Fond, Electricité de France) (1982)
* Gregor Mendel Preis, German Genetical Society (1984)
The greatest reward for herself however was the telegram her hero
Hermann Joseph Muller
Hermann Joseph Muller (December 21, 1890 – April 5, 1967) was an American geneticist, educator, and Nobel laureate best known for his work on the physiological and genetic effects of radiation (mutagenesis), as well as his outspoken political ...
sent after their first striking mutant results in June 1941, which read: "We are thrilled by your major discovery opening great theoretical and practical field. Congratulations."
A room in the Royal Society of Edinburgh's building on George Street, Edinburgh is named for her.
There is a street named ''Charlotte-Auerbach-Straße'' in
Stuhr
Stuhr is a municipality in the district of Diepholz, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approximately 7 km southwest of Bremen. The biggest cities in Stuhr are Brinkum, Fahrenhorst, Groß Mackenstedt, Heiligenrode (Neukrug), Moordeich, ...
-
Brinkum
Brinkum is a municipality in the district of Leer, in Lower Saxony, Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and th ...
. One of the streets in the
Kings Buildings university complex in
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
is named Charlotte Auerbach Road in her honour.
[Edinburgh, A-Z street gazetteer]
Works
Books
*Auerbach C., 1961, 1964. The Science of Genetics. New Yoerk, Harper & Row.
*Auerbach C., 1965. Notes for Introductory Courses in Genetics. Edinburgh: Kallman.
*Auerbach C, 1976. Mutation Research: Problems, Results and Perspectives. London: Chapman & Hall.
Selected publications
*
*
*
*Auerbach C., 1961. Chemicals and their effects. In: Symposium on Mutation and Plant Breeding, National Research Council Publication 891, 120–144. Washington DC: National Academy of Sciences.
*Auerbach C., 1962. Mutation: An introduction to research on Mutagenesis. Part I. Methods. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd.
*
*
*Auerbach C., 1963. Stages in the cell cycle and germ cell development. In: Radiation effects in Physics, Chemistry and Biology, edited by Ebert, M. & A. Howard, 152–168. Chicago Year Book Medical.
*
*
*
*
*
*
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Citations
References
*
*
*
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*
*
*Women in the Biological Sciences: A Biobibliographic Sourcebook. Edited by LS Grinstein, CA Bierman, and RK Rose. Greenwood Press 1997.
Further reading
BBC Radio 4 ''In Our Time'' – GENETIC MUTATION – Steve Jones mentions Auerbach– streaming audio
External links
* Geoffrey Beale
an entry about Charlotte Auerbach Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia
{{DEFAULTSORT:Auerbach, Charlotte
1899 births
1994 deaths
People from Krefeld
German emigrants to Scotland
German geneticists
Jewish German scientists
Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United Kingdom
Scottish geneticists
Scottish zoologists
Scottish folklorists
Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Academics of the University of Edinburgh
Members of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters
Foreign associates of the National Academy of Sciences
Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
Women zoologists
Female Fellows of the Royal Society
20th-century American women scientists
20th-century American scientists
Scottish women scientists
German folklorists
Women folklorists
Jewish women scientists
20th-century German zoologists
American women academics
Auerbach family