Clarence Erwin McClung (April 5, 1870 – January 17, 1946) was an eminent American

zoologist Zoology ( , ) is the scientific study of animals. Its studies include the structure, embryology, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct, and how they interact with their ecosystems. Zoology is one ...

and prairie pioneer

cytologist Cell biology (also cellular biology or cytology) is a branch of biology that studies the structure, function, and behavior of cells. All living organisms are made of cells. A cell is the basic unit of life that is responsible for the living an ...

who discovered the role of

chromosome A chromosome is a package of DNA containing part or all of the genetic material of an organism. In most chromosomes, the very long thin DNA fibers are coated with nucleosome-forming packaging proteins; in eukaryotic cells, the most import ...

s in sex-determination. Graduating pharmacy at the University of Kansas in 1892, after a year of teaching he entered the college as a graduate student (A.B.,1896, A.M.,1898, and Ph.D.,1902.) He studied one summer with W.M. Wheeler at the University of Chicago and at his suggestion, studied the spermatogenesis of Xiphidium fasciatum, a long-horned grasshopper; launching his scientific career in the research of chromosomes. McClung took advantage of the great abundance of grasshoppers in Kansas ''"to make them pivotal for cytological study and to found a school of grasshopper cytologists''." Later, the use of Brachystola magna ("Lubber" grasshopper) for cytological studies would spread to laboratories throughout the world, as germ-cells in the testes were very large and easily studied. Development of the “McClung Model” research microscope and publication of the “Handbook of Microscopal Technique” demonstrated evidence of his commitment to improving the results of scientific research. Appointed Chairman of the Department of Zoology at the University of Kansas in 1901 and Director of the Zoology Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania in 1912. He was elected to the

American Philosophical Society The American Philosophical Society (APS) is an American scholarly organization and learned society founded in 1743 in Philadelphia that promotes knowledge in the humanities and natural sciences through research, professional meetings, publicat ...

in 1913 and the United States

National Academy of Sciences The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, NGO, 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 ...

in 1920. He served as Editor of the Journal of Morphology from 1920 until his retirement in 1940. In 1924, he was a founding member and first Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. The University of Pennsylvania conferred upon him at its bicentennial year commencement exercises the honorary degree of Doctor of Science in 1940. He then spent a year as Acting Chairman of the Department of Zoology at the University of Illinois, and in 1943 was invited to become Acting Chairman of the Department of Biology at Swarthmore College. Ibid He was a member of Episcopalian Church of the Messiah.

References

External links

* 1870 births 1946 deaths American Episcopalians American biologists Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences Presidents of the American Society of Naturalists Members of the American Philosophical Society {{US-biologist-stub