Research into the history of science became institutionalized in China in the 1950s, under clear guidance to systematize traditional Chinese knowledge. In contrast, research into the history of modern disciplines, and especially of their development in China, was not advocated until the late twentieth century. Since then, many books with titles like "The History (or Development) of Modern Physics (or Chemistry, etc.) in China" have been published, and the development of several major branches of biology (like botany, physiology, genetics, entomology, etc.) have also been studied and compiled. However, a generalized and comprehensive investigation of the history of modern biology in China was not available until the publication of this book.
