Research in Morgan’s laboratory
Born in New York State, Bridges entered Morgan’s laboratory while studying at Columbia in 1909. He became skilled at recognising new fruit-fly variants and building strains suitable for crossing experiments, remaining a long-term collaborator of the group.
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Nondisjunction and chromosome bands
His research addressed failures of paired chromosomes to separate normally and their relationship to inherited traits. He also correlated gene positions with banding patterns in salivary-gland chromosomes, supplying material for comparing genetic maps with visible chromosome structure.
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Methods and shared experimental resources
Bridges helped organise mutant nomenclature and improved fly food, observation equipment and temperature-controlled incubators. Such work supported the reliable cultivation and comparison of numerous strains. He moved with Morgan to Caltech in 1928 and died in 1938.
References: [1]