《作为意识形态的生物学》"Biology as an ideology: My take on the English version"

Lysenkoism refers to the pseudoscientific agricultural practices and ideas promoted by Trofim Lysenko, a Soviet biologist, during the mid-20th century. Lysenko rejected established principles of genetics and embraced the theory of the inheritance of acquired characteristics. This theory suggested that an organism could pass on characteristics acquired during its lifetime to its offspring. Lysenko claimed that these acquired characteristics could be induced through environmental factors such as temperature or other external influences.

Under the rule of Joseph Stalin, Lysenkos ideas gained political favor, as they aligned with the ideology of Soviet socialism and the desire for rapid agricultural advancements. His theories were heavily promoted, and dissenting views from the established genetic principles of Mendelian inheritance were suppressed. This led to disastrous consequences for Soviet agriculture, as Lysenkos practices did not align with sound scientific principles.

The consequences of Lysenkoism included the rejection of productive farming techniques, the persecution of scientists who opposed Lysenkos ideas, and the stagnation of Soviet biology. It took several decades for Soviet biology to recover from the damage caused by Lysenkoism.

Lysenkoism serves as a cautionary tale in the history of science, illustrating the dangers of pseudoscience, political interference, and the suppression of scientific dissent.