Contents -- Preface -- Part I. Introduction -- 1. A Brief Review of the Early History of Genetics and Its Relationship to Physics and Chemistry Ute Deichmann -- Physicists and formal genetics: from Gregor Mendel to Max Delbrück -- The chemists' conservative breakthroughs in genetics: from Friedrich Miescher to Oswald T. Avery -- Outlook - the double helix, the genetic code and biochemistry -- Part II. First Initiatives, Concept, Founding and Crisis -- 2. Founding and Crisis Simone Wenkel -- The idea -- The founders -- The foundation -- The early years -- The crisis -- The research -- Conclusion -- 3. Die erste Zeit Carsten Bresch -- 1945-49 -- 1950-55 -- 1956-64 -- 4. The New Start Peter Starlinger -- 5. Building Molecular Biology in Post-War Europe: between the Atomic Age and the American Challenge Bruno J. Strasser -- Introduction -- Meanings of molecular biology -- Institutional developments in Europe -- Atoms for peace -- The American challenge -- Conclusions -- 6. Beitrag zur Gedenkfeier für Max Delbrück Joseph Straub -- 7. Niels Bohr's Last Lecture - An Introduction Gunther S. Stent -- 8. Light and Life Revisited Niels Bohr -- Part III. The Beginnings -- 9. Working with Max Delbrück Charles N. David -- Not for the faint hearted -- A family affair -- 10. Recollections Hans G. Zachau -- Becoming a biochemist -- tRNA research in Munich and Cologne, 1958-66 -- 11. How Chemistry Met Genetics Horst Feldmann -- 12. Eindrücke eines Doktoranden Fritz Melchers -- 13. The Institute's Impact on Neighbouring Disciplines Georg Michaelis -- 14. Life with Bacteriophages Thomas A. Trautner -- Part IV. Views from Outside -- 15. View from (Cologne) Physics Bernhard Mühlschlegel -- 16. In the Smog of Genetics: Biochemistry in Cologne - My Version of History Lothar Jaenicke -- Medical chemist in Cologne -- Denizen-biochemist, science faculty -- Max's aura.

The mostly ups of genetics -- The day of a biochemist -- The "biochemistry genetics needs…" -- Spreading the gospel - SFB 74 -- From provisional to solid fundament on fortified ground -- 17. History and Fate of a Similar Concept: the Biology Division of the Southwest Center for Advanced Studies in Dallas Hans Bremer -- 18. TMV in Tübingen and Its Escapade with Genetics Karl-Wolfgang Mundry -- Part V. Research and Scientific Collaboration -- 19. Molecular Virology and Medical Genetics at the Institute of Genetics in Cologne, 1972-2002 Walter Doerfler -- Prelude -- First visit to Cologne - course in bacterial and phage genetics -- Reminiscences about Max Delbrück -- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University Medical School - post-doc with David S. Hogness -- Rockefeller University, molecular virology, Igor Tamm, Purnell Choppin -- Alternative offers -- Wallenberg Laboratoriet vid Uppsala Universitet -- And now on to thirty years at the Institute of Genetics in Cologne -- Space problems -- Major research topics in molecular virology/medical genetics at the Institute of Genetics in Cologne -- Independent Group Leaders in the Department of Molecular Virology -- Support for research in molecular virology at the Institute of Genetics, 1972-2004 -- Sabbaticals and extended visits to other research groups abroad -- Transgressing the Iron Curtain -- The Cologne Spring Meetings -- Temptations to leave the Institute of Genetics -- Die Emeritierungsurkunde -- 20. T4 Hets and Five Floors to Hang Around Rainer Hertel -- 21. The Long Way from Glucose Effects in Bacteria to (Systems-) Biology Joseph W. Lengeler -- 1956: "Traditional" biology teaching in Cologne -- Differences between the German and the American universities and scientific style -- Joseph Straub, a "modern" biologist in Cologne -- The start in the Institute of Genetics.

The transition period from Max's departure to Sonderforschungsbereich 74 -- From Cologne to Harvard Medical School and back to Germany -- Conclusion: back from molecular physiology to (systems-) biology -- Discussion -- Ute Deichmann -- Joseph Lengeler -- 22. Attempts to Transfer Lab Structure and Scientific Habits from Harvard to Cologne Benno Müller-Hill -- Discussion -- Peter Starlinger -- Walter Doerfler -- Ute Deichmann -- Benno Müller-Hill -- Walter Doerfler -- Benno Müller-Hill -- Jonathan Howard -- Benno Müller-Hill -- Maria Leptin -- 23. Joining the Institute of Genetics Early on as an Immunologist Klaus Rajewsky -- Discussion -- Jonathan Howard -- Klaus Rajewsky -- Jonathan Howard -- Klaus Rajewsky -- Ute Deichmann -- Klaus Rajewsky -- Speaker from the audience -- Speaker from the audience -- Klaus Rajewsky -- Walter Doerfler -- Klaus Rajewsky -- Willy Stoffel -- Klaus Rajewsky -- 24. Early Years of Transposon Research in Cologne Heinz Saedler -- Part VI. Molecular Biology and the German University Structure -- 25. Panel Discussion Hermann Bujard, Walter Doerfler, Klaus Rajewsky, chair: Maria Leptin -- Maria Leptin -- Walter Doerfler -- Hermann Bujard -- Klaus Rajewsky -- Maria Leptin -- Walter Doerfler -- Hermann Bujard -- Klaus Rajewsky -- Hermann Bujard -- Maria Leptin -- Walter Doerfler -- Hermann Bujard -- Klaus Rajewsky -- Maria Leptin -- Joseph Lengeler -- Ariane Toussaint -- Ute Deichmann -- Hermann Bujard -- Klaus Rajewsky -- Ute Deichmann -- Walter Doerfler -- Speaker from the audience -- Hermann Bujard -- Jonathan Howard -- Hermann Bujard -- Maria Leptin -- Willy Stoffel -- Maria Leptin -- Willy Stoffel -- Speaker from the audience -- Maria Leptin -- Gerrit Praefcke -- Jonathan Howard -- Frank Sprenger -- Hermann Bujard -- Walter Doerfler -- Maria Leptin -- Part VII. Establishment and Teaching of Molecular Biology in Germany.

26. Panel Discussion Charles N. David, Jonathan Howard, Hubert Kneser, Peter Overath, chair: Benno Müller-Hill -- Charles David -- Jonathan Howard -- Hubert Kneser -- Peter Overath -- Jonathan Howard -- Charles David -- Peter Overath -- Charles David -- Hermann Bujard -- Joseph Lengeler -- A Ph.D. student -- Another Ph.D. student -- Maria Leptin -- Charles David -- Gerrit Praefcke -- Jonathan Howard -- Speaker from the audience -- Charles David -- Speaker from the audience -- Maria Leptin -- A Ph.D. student -- Benno Müller-Hill -- Speaker from the audience -- Charles David -- Jonathan Howard -- Joseph Lengeler -- Jonathan Howard -- Part VIII. Final Remarks -- 27. Science and Society Peter Starlinger -- Pictures of the History Workshop in Cologne in April 2005 -- Notes on the Contributors -- Abbreviations -- Figure Sources -- Index of Names.