Vivarium: Experimental, Quantitative, and Theoretical Biology at Vienna's Biologische Versuchsanstalt (Vienna Series in Theoretical Biology)

The Scientific Achievements And Forgotten Legacy Of A Major Austrian Research Institute, From Its Founding In 1902 To Its Wartime Destruction In 1945. The Biologische Versuchsanstalt Was Founded In Vienna In 1902 With The Explicit Goal To Foster The Quantification, Mathematization, And Theory Formation Of The Biological Sciences. Three Biologists From Affluent Viennese Jewish Families—hans Przibram, Wilhelm Figdor, And Leopold Von Portheim–founded, Financed, And Nurtured The Institute, Overseeing Its Development Into One Of The Most Advanced Biological Research Institutes Of The Time. And Yet Today Its Accomplishments Are Nearly Forgotten. In 1938, The Founders And Other Members Were Denied Access To The Institute By The Nazis And Were Forced Into Exile Or Deported To Concentration Camps. The Building Itself Was Destroyed By Fire In April 1945. This Book Rescues The Legacy Of The “vivarium” (as The Institute Was Often Called), Describing Both Its Scientific Achievements And Its Place In History. The Book Covers The Viennese Sociocultural Context At The Time Of The Vivarium's Founding, And The Scientific Zeitgeist That Shaped Its Investigations. It Discusses The Institute's Departments And Their Research Topics, And Describes Two Examples That Had Scientific And International Ramifications: The Early Work Of Karl Von Frisch, Who In 1973 Won The Nobel Prize In Physiology Or Medicine; And The Connection To Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory In New York. Contributors Heiner Fangerau, Johannes Feichtinger, Georg Gaugusch, Manfred D. Laubichler, Cheryl A. Logan, Gerd B. Müller, Tania Munz, Kärin Nickelsen, Christian Reiß, Kate E. Sohasky, Heiko Stoff, Klaus Taschwer Contents 7 Series Foreword 9 Foreword 11 Note 14 Preface 15 I INTRODUCTION 17 1 Biologische Versuchsanstalt: An Experiment in the Experimental Sciences 19 Scientific Inspirations 23 The Departments 26 Resurrection 28 Open Questions 29 Legacies 30 References 32 II VIENNESE CONTEXT 35 2 The Founders of the Biologische Versuchsanstalt: A Families’ Topography 37 The Jewish Haute Bourgeoisie 37 The Origins 40 Position in Society 40 Literacy, Learning, and Education 41 The Przibram Family 42 The Porges von Portheim Family 45 The Figdor Family 47 Summary 49 Notes 50 References 51 3 From the Aquarium to the Zoo to the Lab: Preludes to the Biologische Versuchsanstalt in the Viennese Wurstelprater 53 “Prater No. 1”: The Aquarium of the 1873 World Exposition 54 The Vivarium: Between Education and Spectacle 57 Zoology in Vienna before 1900 60 Experimental Biology and the Crisis of Darwinism 62 Aquariums and Amateur Science 63 Post Scriptum: From the Lab Back to the Aquarium 65 Note 66 References 66 4 The Biologische Versuchsanstalt in Historical Context 69 Fin-de-siècle Vienna Science 71 Richard Wettstein, the Intermediator 74 Double Affiliation: The BVA, the University, and the Imperial Academy 75 Steps toward Decline: The BVA between Imperial and Nazi Vienna 80 Summary 83 Notes 85 References 86 III SCIENTIFIC ZEITGEIST 91 5 Experimental Biology and the Biomedical Ideal around the Year 1900 93 Developmental Mechanics—A New Discipline? 95 Claims and Counterclaims 96 Practical Medicine 99 Self-Images and Resources 101 Conclusion 104 Notes 105 References 107 6 The Emergence of Theoretical and General Biology: The Broader Scientific Context for the Biologische Versuchsanstalt 111 Biology as a Fundamental Independent Branch of Science and the Formulation of General Biology 114 General Biology as the Subject of Textbooks 116 General Biology Textbooks 117 General Biology and the Establishment of Innovative New Research Institutes 118 General Biology and the Popularization of Science 122 General and Theoretical Biology as Part of Contemporary Culture 123 Outlook 125 Notes 127 References 128 7 The Biologische Versuchsanstalt as a Techno-natural Assemblage: Artificial Environments, Animal Husbandry, and the Challenges of Experimental Biology 131 The History of Experimental Research in Nineteenth-Century Zoology and the Question of Spaces and Places 132 The Aquarium and the Role of Techno-natural Assemblages in Nineteenth-Century Zoology 135 The BVA as a Techno-natural Assemblage 139 The Central Supply Systems 141 Facilities for Animal Husbandry 142 Conclusion 144 Notes 145 References 145 IV RESEARCH AGENDA 149 8 The Substance of Form: Hans Przibram’s Quest for Biological Experiment, Quantification, and Theory 151 Mentors and Motives 151 Experimental Zoology of Qualities 155 Experimental Zoology of Quantities 165 A Theory of Form 169 Conclusions 172 Acknowledgments 173 Notes 173 References 173 9 Growth, Development, and Regeneration: Plant Biology in Vienna around 1900 181 The Subject and the Actors 181 Installing Plant Biology at the BVA 184 Anisophylly; or, The Interplay of Internal and External Factors 186 The Principles of Regeneration 191 Conclusion 195 Notes 196 References 200 10 Wolfgang Pauli and Colloid Science at the Biologische Versuchsanstalt 205 Pauli and Colloid Chemistry at the BVA 206 Colloidal Controversies from around 1900 to the 1920s 209 Pauli’s Department at the BVA 212 Proteins, Biocolloids, and Micelles 214 Colloid Science and Vital Processes 217 Conclusion 220 Notes 221 References 222 11 The Physiology of Erotization: Comparative Neuroendocrinology in Eugen Steinach’s Physiology Department 225 Brain, Behavior, and Context 227 Comparative Neuroendocrinology and the Pituitary 231 The American Rejection of Steinach 237 America and the Pituitary Wars 238 Laboratory Cultures in Endocrinology 240 Acknowledgments 243 Notes 243 References 244 V RAMIFICATIONS 247 12 Fish in the Prater: Karl von Frisch’s Early Work at the Biologische Versuchsanstalt, 1909–1910 249 Early Science 250 Von Frisch’s Research at the BVA 253 Xaverl the Catfish 258 A New Laboratory in Munich 260 Conclusion 263 Acknowledgments 263 Notes 264 References 264 13 The Biologische Versuchsanstalt in Transnational Perspective: The Cold Spring Harbor Connection 267 Experimental Biological Stations 269 The Great War 273 Science and Politics during the Interwar Years 276 Financial Crises in the “Roaring” Twenties 279 Activist Science 281 Acknowledgments 283 Notes 284 References 285 Contributors 287 Index 289 Contents -- Series Foreword -- Foreword -- Note -- Preface -- I INTRODUCTION -- 1 Biologische Versuchsanstalt: An Experiment in the Experimental Sciences -- Scientific Inspirations -- The Departments -- Resurrection -- Open Questions -- Legacies -- References -- II VIENNESE CONTEXT -- 2 The Founders of the Biologische Versuchsanstalt: A Familiesâ#x80 #x99 Topography -- The Jewish Haute Bourgeoisie -- The Origins -- Position in Society -- Literacy, Learning, and Education -- The Przibram Family -- The Porges von Portheim Family -- The Figdor Family SummaryNotes -- References -- 3 From the Aquarium to the Zoo to the Lab: Preludes to the Biologische Versuchsanstalt in the Viennese Wurstelprater -- â#x80 #x9C Prater No. 1â#x80 #x9D : The Aquarium of the 1873 World Exposition -- The Vivarium: Between Education and Spectacle -- Zoology in Vienna before 1900 -- Experimental Biology and the Crisis of Darwinism -- Aquariums and Amateur Science -- Post Scriptum: From the Lab Back to the Aquarium -- Note -- References -- 4 The Biologische Versuchsanstalt in Historical Context -- Fin-de-siÃc̈le Vienna Science Richard Wettstein, the IntermediatorDouble Affiliation: The BVA, the University, and the Imperial Academy -- Steps toward Decline: The BVA between Imperial and Nazi Vienna -- Summary -- Notes -- References -- III SCIENTIFIC ZEITGEIST -- 5 Experimental Biology and the Biomedical Ideal around the Year 1900 -- Developmental Mechanicsâ#x80 #x94 A New Discipline? -- Claims and Counterclaims -- Practical Medicine -- Self-Images and Resources -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References 6 The Emergence of Theoretical and General Biology: The Broader Scientific Context for the Biologische VersuchsanstaltBiology as a Fundamental Independent Branch of Science and the Formulation of General Biology -- General Biology as the Subject of Textbooks -- General Biology Textbooks -- General Biology and the Establishment of Innovative New Research Institutes -- General Biology and the Popularization of Science -- General and Theoretical Biology as Part of Contemporary Culture -- Outlook -- Notes -- References 7 The Biologische Versuchsanstalt as a Techno-natural Assemblage: Artificial Environments, Animal Husbandry, and the Challenges of Experimental BiologyThe History of Experimental Research in Nineteenth-Century Zoology and the Question of Spaces and Places -- The Aquarium and the Role of Techno-natural Assemblages in Nineteenth-Century Zoology -- The BVA as a Techno-natural Assemblage -- The Central Supply Systems -- Facilities for Animal Husbandry -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- IV RESEARCH AGENDA ""8 The Substance of Form: Hans Przibramâ#x80 #x99 s Quest for Biological Experiment, Quantification, and Theory"" "The Biologische Versuchsanstalt was founded in Vienna in 1902 with the explicit goal to foster the quantification, mathematization, and theory formation of the biological sciences. Three biologists from affluent Viennese Jewish families-Hans Przibram, Wilhelm Figdor, and Leopold von Portheim-founded, financed, and nurtured the institute, overseeing its development into one of the most advanced biological research institutes of the time. And yet today its accomplishments are nearly forgotten. In 1938, the founders and other members were denied access to the institute by the Nazis and were forced into exile or deported to concentration camps. The building itself was destroyed by fire in April 1945. This book rescues the legacy of the "Vivarium" (as the Institute was often called), describing both its scientific achievements and its place in history. The book covers the Viennese sociocultural context at the time of the Vivarium's founding, and the scientific zeitgeist that shaped its investigations. It discusses the institute's departments and their research topics, and describes two examples that had scientific and international ramifications: the early work of Karl von Frisch, who in 1973 won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; and the connection to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York."--Page 4 de la couverture Contents -- Series Foreword -- Foreword -- Note -- Preface -- I INTRODUCTION -- 1 Biologische Versuchsanstalt: An Experiment in the Experimental Sciences -- Scientific Inspirations -- The Departments -- Resurrection -- Open Questions -- Legacies -- References -- II VIENNESE CONTEXT -- 2 The Founders of the Biologische Versuchsanstalt: A Familiesâ#x80;#x99; Topography -- The Jewish Haute Bourgeoisie -- The Origins -- Position in Society -- Literacy, Learning, and Education -- The Przibram Family -- The Porges von Portheim Family -- The Figdor Family;The scientific achievements and forgotten legacy of a major Austrian research institute, from its founding in 1902 to its wartime destruction in 1945. A fully searchable collection of articles by scientists and historians in the fields of biochemistry and physiology, cell biology, developmental biology, ecology, evolution, genetics, immunology, molecular biology, neuroscience, microbiology and virology, plant science, structural biology, science and society Concentrates primarily on the molecular and cellular life sciences, including biochemical topics, methods and techniques. Applied areas of science are also included on a selective basis, as are biographies and general interest articles on ethics and the history of science Articles In The Fields Of Biochemistry And Physiology, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Genetics, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Microbiology And Virology, Plant Science, Structural Biology, Science And Society. Includes Index.