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Richard C. Lewontin â50, a renowned population geneticist and organismic and evolutionary biology professor at Harvard, died on July 4 at the age of 92. Though he retired in 2003, he remained involved with Harvard until shortly before his death.
Over his scientific career, Lewontin sought to understand patterns of genetic variation, pioneering new techniques for analyzing differences within populations. He was not afraid to mix politics with science, particularly criticizing the use of genetics to analyze differences between racial groups.
âHe really believed strongly that a scientist could legitimately venture beyond the practice of pure science to analyze the social and political causes and consequences of science,â his son Stephen P. Lewontin â72 said.