Conklin, Edwin G.

Conklin, Edwin G. (Grant)

(1863–1952) developmental biologist; born in Waldo, Ohio. He was a professor at Ohio Wesleyan (1891–94), then moved to Northwestern (1894–96) and the University of Pennsylvania (1896–1908). He joined Princeton (1908–33), remaining active in national and international academic affairs after retirement. A specialist in the embryology of marine organisms, he stressed the importance of the cytoplasm during the development of the fertilized egg. He was both a religious person and an avid evolutionist who interpreted Darwin's theories to lay and scientific audiences.