The institutionalization of biology in Mexico in the early 20th century: the conflict between Alfonso Luis Herrera (1865-1942) and Isaac Ochoterena (1885-1950)

The aim of this work is to evaluate the roleplayed by Alfonso Luis Herrera and IsaacOchoterena in the institutionalization ofacademic biology in Mexico in the early 20thcentury. As biology became institutionalized inMexico, Herrera's basic approach to biology wasdisplaced by Isaac Ochoterena's professionalgoals due to the prevailing politicalconditions at the end of 1929. Theconflict arose from two different conceptionsof biology, because Herrera and Ochoterena haddifferent discourses that were incommensurable,not only linguistically speaking, but alsosocioprofessionally. They had different linksto influential groups related to education,having distinct political and socioprofessionalinterests. The conflict between Herrreraand Ochoterena determined the way in whichprofessional biology education has developed inMexico, as well as the advancement in specificresearch subjects and the neglect of others.