Science: Dear Teacher ...

Professor Anton R. Zhebrak is a Soviet geneticist who has enjoyed international respect. Like most reputable scientists, he has believed in the Morgan-Mendelian theory of genetics (i.e., hereditary characteristics are controlled by genes which cannot be altered by ordinary environmental conditions). That belief made him a heretic in Russia, where science must take the Communist view that Environment Is All. Last year Zhebrak was roundly denounced by Pravda for admitting in the U.S. weekly, Science, that many Russian geneticists still uphold Mendel's laws (TIME, Sept. 22).

During the last fortnight Professor Zhebrak has...

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