You might not think of gardening as science, but home gardeners have long been enthusiasts for experimentation of all kinds and gardens have often doubled as experimental laboratories. This talk will describe the efforts of amateur gardeners to create their own new varieties of flowers, fruits and vegetables throughout the twentieth century -- using techniques taken straight from the latest in genetics research. These include everything from straightforward techniques such as selection and hybridization to more unusual approaches such as x-raying seeds, spraying shoots with toxic chemicals, and exposing flower buds to radioisotopes. You might even get inspired to try your own hand at evolution!
Start time 19.00
Start time 19.00
