1. I remember reading an essay (can’t put my hands on it now)
which held that Trofim Lysenko in reality had little influence on the NKVD,
and that Lysenkoites as well as geneticists disappeared during the terror.
According to this view, the NKVD cared more about scapegoats than academic subjects
and Lysenko was more puppet that villain.
Holly Barker’s story is neatly told, but the underlying reality is undoubtedly complex.

2. A brief rebuttal to obiwanceleri’s comment (above).
Paul Kammerer did not anticipate the field of epigenetics–
which is very different despite a few superficial similarities.
An attempt to replicate Kammerer’s midwife toad experiment failed,
and his principles are not employed anywhere.
(An aside: the social-realist film ‘Salamander’ of 1928
is a fictional account of Kammerer’s life and well worth watching.)

3. There are a number of instances today where research diverges from current orthodoxy.
Male/Female cognitive differences, the root causes of sexual preference,
and rapid onset gender dysphoria come to mind.
While thankfully the NKVD is not involved,
researchers who hold the heretical views face cancellation.
On wonders how the world will view these conflicts 90 years from now.

“The Wheels of Justice Grind Exceedingly Slow. But They Grind Exceedingly Fine.”

I grew up in the late ’60s hearing how bad the Soviets were, but it’s taken the internet over years to reveal the depth of evil and stupidity humans are capable of.

Great story.