Nettie Maria Stevens

Born:

July 7, 1861, Cavendish, Vermont, USA

Died:

May 4, 1912, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Nationality:

American

Profession(s):

Geneticist, Cytologist

Early Life and Education

• Graduated from Westford Academy in 1880.
• Taught zoology and physiology for several years.
• Attended Westfield Normal School (now Westfield State University).
• Received a bachelor's degree from Stanford University in 1896.
• Earned a master's degree from Stanford University in 1900.
• Earned a Ph.D. from Bryn Mawr College in 1903.

Career and Major Achievements

• Research Associate at Bryn Mawr College.
• Conducted groundbreaking research on sex determination in insects.
• Independently discovered that sex is determined by chromosomes. This discovery significantly impacted the study of genetics.
• Discovered that male mealworms had unmatched chromosomes, later identified as X and Y chromosomes.
• Observed that female mealworms possessed matching chromosomes (XX).

Notable Works

• "A Study of the Germ Cells of Several Species of Aphids" (1905)
• "Studies in Spermatogenesis with Especial Reference to the 'Accessory Chromosome'" (1905)
• "The Composition of the Egg of Aphis roseae and Aphis oenotherae" (1906)
• "A Comparison of the Volume of Corresponding Chromosomes in Male and Female Aphis" (1909)

Legacy and Impact

Nettie Maria Stevens made a monumental contribution to the field of genetics with her discovery of sex chromosomes. Her work provided a crucial link between chromosomes and inherited traits. While the full impact of "nettie maria stevens biography for kids" might be difficult to grasp for younger audiences, it's important to acknowledge her groundbreaking work which laid the foundation for understanding sex determination and inherited traits.

Publications

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