| Sex chromosomes---the X and the Y---played a central role in the emergence of modern genetics and underpin the biology of human sex and gender difference. Models in sex chromosome research lean heavily on gendered metaphors, symbolism, and ideology. Examining sex chromosome research from 1900 to the present, this dissertation shows how gender assumptions helped to shape and fill out models in sex chromosome research and influenced the direction of the field. Tracking the role of these assumptions through changes in their specific content as well as through changes in the understanding of chromosomal and genetic structure shows the contribution of gender conceptions to twentieth century genetics. The argument of the dissertation is based on three types of evidence: a deep reading of the central research papers from the episodes analyzed, using methodologies from philosophy of science; interviews with many of the scientists; and feminist analysis of gender. |
