Claire Weekes - Early Career in Biology

Early Career in Biology

Claire Weekes began her career as a research scientist, receiving her D Sc in 1930 from the University of Sydney; she was the first woman to attain that degree from the university. Working under Prof. Launcelot Harrison, she conducted research on reproduction and placentation in viviparous (live-bearing) lizards from 1925–1934; part of this period (1929–1931) was spent in England in the lab of J.P. Hill. Weekes' work led to eight published papers, including a major summary published in 1935 in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. Weekes' work provided the basis an understanding of reptile placentation that lasted for nearly 50 years. More recent work has continued to build on the empirical and conceptual framework that she established.

Claire Weekes' published papers in reproductive biology of reptiles:

• Harrison, L., and C. H. Weekes. (1925). On the occurrence of placentation in the scincid lizard, Lygosoma entrecasteauxi. Proc. Zool. Soc. N.S.W. 50: 472-486.
• Weekes, C.H. (1927a). Placentation and other phenomena in the scincid lizard Lygosoma (Hinulia) quoyi. Proc Zool Soc NSW 52:499-554.
• Weekes, C.H. (1927b). A note on reproductive phenomena in some lizards. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 52: 25-32.
• Weekes, C.H. (1929). On placentation in reptiles. I. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 54: 34-60.
• Weekes, C.H. (1930). On placentation in reptiles. II. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 55: 550-576.
• Weekes, C.H. (1933). On the distribution, habitat, and reproductive habits of certain European and Australian snakes and lizards, with particular regard to their adoption of viviparity. Proc. Zool. Soc. N.S.W. 58: 270-274.
• Weekes, C.H. (1934). The corpus luteum in certain oviparous and viviparous reptiles. Proc. Zool. Soc. N.S.W. 69: 380-391.
• Weekes, C.H. (1935). A review of placentation among reptiles, with particular regard to the function and evolution of the placenta. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 2: 625-645.