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The National Institute of Genetics was established on June 1, 1949 under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education. In 1939, there was an argument for the establishment of a special facility for specific genetic research in Japan by members of the Genetics Society of Japan. In 1994, the National Institute of Genetics was reorganized as an inter-university institute for joint use by universities. I will present a historical sketch of the National Institute of Genetics from 1939 to 1984. First, I will give a brief history of genetics in Japan. Second, I will discuss the idea of the establishment of an institute of genetics. Third, I will introduce the Goldschmidt Collection in the National Institute of Genetics. Finally, I will discuss the careers and personalities of the previous directors of the National Institute of Genetics. In the 1950s, the staff members of the National Institute of Genetics were against Michurin-Lysenko genetics. Conversely, it seems that the National Institute of Genetics gathered the Mendel-Morgan line’s researchers. However, the most famous National Institute of Genetics’ researcher, Motoo Kimura, was not part of the eugenic movement, though his thoughts on eugenics are found in his essay.

堤 賢 教授古希記念号