Roelof Prakken

Affiliations:

1945-1969

Department of Genetics

Wageningen University, Wageningen, Gelderland, Netherlands

Area:

Population and Quantitative Genetics, Cytogenetics, Biochemical Genetics, Mutagenesis, Microbial Genetics

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"Roelof Prakken"

Bio:

http://dap.library.uu.nl/cgi-bin/dap/dap?diss_id=4165
Roelof Prakken was born in the village of Enter on 13 November 1898.
After graduating from the Deventer Teachers Training College in 1918, he was a primary school teacher until 1927, first at Enter, then at Culemborg near Utrecht. In this period his interest in biology was evident from a number of articles on plant communities. By following lectures at the University of Utrecht, Prakken, in his spare time, prepared for the "Akte m.o. K IV" (geology and biology), which degree qualifies for teaching in all secondary schools.
In 1927 followed the appointment as teaching assistant in zoology and experimental histology at the Department of Zoology of Utrecht University where, in 1931, Prakken graduated cum laude in botany, zoology and genetics.
Afterwards, as scientific assistant to Prof, Dr. J. A. Honing at the Department of Genetics of the Agricultural University at Wageningen, he prepared a thesis "Inheritance of colours and pod characters in Phaseolus vulgarís" and, with Honing as promoter, obtained the Doctor's Degree (cum laude) of Utrecht University.
In 1939, a Rockefeller grant enabled him to join Muntzing at Lund. In the meantime, World War II had led to the occupation of The Netherlands, and Prakken chose to stay in Sweden although expiration of his grant left him financially at the breadline. Later on, in the service of the Dutch government in exile (London), he devoted himself to the analysis of agricultural and agro-economic problems to contribute to the postwar reconstruction of agriculture in The Netherlands. For this work and for his activities for famine relief he was officially honoured. Some of the reports, notably those on different aspects of plant and animal breeding, were published after the
war.
After 1945, Prakken returned to Wageningen, where he became botanist at the Department of Genetics, and in 1949 succeeded Honing as Professor Genetics, accepting the chair with the inaugural address "Chromosoomperspectieven". During Prakken*s directorship, the Department staff was gradually extended, and specialized teaching and research in the fields of population and quantitative genetics, cytogenetics, biochemical genetics, mutagenesis and microbial genetics were initiated.
On 1 September 1969, at the age of 70, Prakken retired after 50 years of service, and having published over 60 scientific papers. His farewell address "Fifty years of Genetics" derives its title from the fact that 50 years ago he have his first public lecture on genetics.
Being fit and young at heart, and at last having time for it, he devoted himself to the analysis of the extensive data on seed-coat colour in Phaseolus vulgaris, which had accumulated over the past 20 years. This resulted in three large publications and several smaller ones, the latter in the BIG Newsletter.
It was a great satisfaction to him when in 1977 the Bean Improvement Cooperative honoured him with the Meritorious Service Awaid "for outstanding research on beans".
On September 20th, 1978, Roelof Prakken suddenly and quietly died at his home, leaving behind his flowering bean plants in the greenhouse of the Department of Genetics.
The born scientist Prakken never had to really retire and never saw his clarity of thinking fade.
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