A Life Interrupted: The Story of Botanist Calvin Sperling from Minnesota to Biodiversity-Crop Breeding, Genetics and Genomics-CSCIED科技核心评价数据库-手机版

A Life Interrupted: The Story of Botanist Calvin Sperling from Minnesota to Biodiversity

A Life Interrupted: The Story of Botanist Calvin Sperling from Minnesota to Biodiversity

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DOI	10.20900/cbgg20250007
刊名	Crop Breeding, Genetics and Genomics CBGG
年，卷(期)	2025, 7(2)
作者	Joel I. Cohen*,
作者单位	Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States ;
摘要	This paper examines the life and work of Dr. Calvin R. Sperling (1957–1995), beginning on his family farm to becoming a trusted source on biodiversity conservation and directing Plant Exploration for the Department of Agriculture. Changes in his work are noted in relation to the changing meaning of germplasm from governance as a product of world heritage to governance under each nation’s sovereign control. In addition, understanding of genetic resources shifts as they become a recognized part of biodiversity, making Dr. Sperling’s insights from ethnobotanical studies with Richard Schultes more important and specimens Calvin collected became valuable herbarium samples and germplasm for crop improvement. These changes eventually helped focus Calvin’s career on combatting genetic erosion, ensuring the conservation of crop relatives, and expanding his communication abilities. By understanding the transitions and responses to change, this biography makes such changes accessible to those pursuing related professions. The paper concludes with using such a biography in the classroom and finally, introducing the endowed lecture series conducted in honor of Dr. Sperling’s courage and forthrightness.
Abstract	This paper examines the life and work of Dr. Calvin R. Sperling (1957–1995), beginning on his family farm to becoming a trusted source on biodiversity conservation and directing Plant Exploration for the Department of Agriculture. Changes in his work are noted in relation to the changing meaning of germplasm from governance as a product of world heritage to governance under each nation’s sovereign control. In addition, understanding of genetic resources shifts as they become a recognized part of biodiversity, making Dr. Sperling’s insights from ethnobotanical studies with Richard Schultes more important and specimens Calvin collected became valuable herbarium samples and germplasm for crop improvement. These changes eventually helped focus Calvin’s career on combatting genetic erosion, ensuring the conservation of crop relatives, and expanding his communication abilities. By understanding the transitions and responses to change, this biography makes such changes accessible to those pursuing related professions. The paper concludes with using such a biography in the classroom and finally, introducing the endowed lecture series conducted in honor of Dr. Sperling’s courage and forthrightness.
关键词	Calvin Sperling; commemoration; genetic resources; gene banks; plant collectors; herbarium; conservation; genetic erosion
KeyWord	Calvin Sperling; commemoration; genetic resources; gene banks; plant collectors; herbarium; conservation; genetic erosion
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引用本文

Joel I. Cohen*. A Life Interrupted: The Story of Botanist Calvin Sperling from Minnesota to Biodiversity [J]. Crop Breeding, Genetics and Genomics. 2025; 7; (2). - .

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