Dzięki badaniom kopalnego ludzkiego DNA możemy lepiej poznać ewolucję naszego gatunku, a także historię powstania państw i narodów, mówi prof. dr hab. Marek Figlerowicz z Instytutu Chemii Bioorganicznej PAN w Poznaniu.

Zanieczyszczenia genetyczne w dobie światowego kryzysu klimatycznego to miecz obosieczny – stwarzają nie tylko nowe możliwości, lecz także ryzyko globalnej katastrofy.

This article provides an initial analysis, from a historical standpoint, of the problematic nature of conceptualizations of the notion of gene in molecular genetics. The starting point is an historical outline of the relation between classical genetics and molecular genetics; it is indicated how the conceptual baggage of classical genetics influenced the development of the concepts of gene used later in molecular biology. I also reveal two problems of genes in the philosophy of science, i.e., skepticism concerning genes and the concept of nominal gene. I conclude that concept of gene functioning within the framework of molecular genetics should be considered from the point of view of experimentalism and pragmatism. It seems that the concept of gene on the molecular level should be conceptualized—in order to remain functional—as broadly as possible and in relation to genetic material.

Professor Piotr Węgleński, who died on January 19, 2024 studied and worked at the University of Warsaw – at the Faculty of Biology and later at the Center for New Technologies. He was a member of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the vice-rector and later the rector of the University of Warsaw. He was responsible for introducing genetic engineering to Poland. He was a great boss – that is what we always called him – and a great academic teacher and was very active in popularizing science.