Trofim Lysenko was a Soviet agronomist and biologist known for his controversial ideas which challenged Western scientific consensus. He promoted the concept of "Michurinism," claiming that acquired traits could be inherited and asserting that environmental changes could directly influence genetics. Lysenko's theories gained prominence in the Soviet Union during the 1930s and 1940s, often aligning with political ideologies and rejecting Mendelian genetics. His influence led to significant setbacks in biological sciences within the USSR, as his rejection of genetics hindered scientific progress and resulted in the persecution of geneticists who disagreed with him. Lysenko's policies and pseudoscientific practices were largely responsible for a decline in research quality, and his dominance in Soviet science persisted until the 1960s when his theories were discredited internationally. Trofim Lysenko's legacy is widely regarded as damaging to scientific development, illustrating how political ideology can interfere with scientific integrity. Nevertheless, he remains a notable figure in the history of science for his role in exposing the dangers of dogmatic adherence to unproven theories and the importance of scientific rigor. Trofim Lysenko was a Soviet agronomist and biologist known for his controversial ideas which challenged Western scientific consensus. He promoted the concept of "Michurinism," claiming that acquired traits could be inherited and asserting that environmental changes could directly influence genetics. Lysenko's theories gained prominence in the Soviet Union during the 1930s and 1940s, often aligning with political ideologies and rejecting Mendelian genetics. His influence led to significant setbacks in biological sciences within the USSR, as his rejection of genetics hindered scientific progress and resulted in the persecution of geneticists who disagreed with him. Lysenko's policies and pseudoscientific practices were largely responsible for a decline in research quality, and his dominance in Soviet science persisted until the 1960s when his theories were discredited internationally. Trofim Lysenko's legacy is widely regarded as damaging to scientific development, illustrating how political ideology can interfere with scientific integrity. Nevertheless, he remains a notable figure in the history of science for his role in exposing the dangers of dogmatic adherence to unproven theories and the importance of scientific rigor.