Biological Research After The Electron Microscope: The Case of Irene Manton

In 1950 the Leeds-based biologist Irene Manton, FRS, had an international reputation as an expert in the cytology and evolution of ferns. But with the arrival of the electron microscope her research took a new and fascinating turn, which soon led to her making major discoveries on the fine structure of flagella. Drawing on previously unexamined archival materials as well as interviews with former colleagues, this thesis uses Manton's case in order to explore the impact of the electron microscope on post-WWII biological research. Particular attention is paid to (i) the transition from research based in light microscopy and its techniques; (ii) the challenges that Manton faced in gaining access to the latest electron microscopes (and how being a woman exacerbated those challenges); and (iii) her disciplinary position as someone whose integration of evolutionary and cytological research represents a path not taken for the "cell biology" that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s.