The botanists of besieged Leningrad
History Extra podcast
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Seeds of Survival: The Legacy of Vavilov and Lysenko
This chapter examines the fierce rivalry between botanists Trofim Lysenko and Nikolai Vavilov during the Soviet Union's turmoil in the 1930s. Focusing on the botanists' heroic efforts to preserve seeds amid the starvation of besieged Leningrad, it reveals the sacrifices made in the name of science and food security. The narrative connects historical seed conservation with contemporary practices, highlighting Vavilov's enduring legacy in modern botanical research.
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