Trofim Denisovich Lysenko was born into a peasant family in Karlivka. His upbringing was steeped in traditional farming practices, which would later heavily influence his rejection of modern genetics in favor of experiential methods. This background provided him with a deep understanding of practical agriculture, but lacked formal scientific training in genetics and evolutionary biology.

Lysenko graduated from the Kyiv Agricultural Institute, marking a formal step in his agricultural education. While this institution provided him with a foundation in agronomy, it did not equip him to critically assess or fully grasp the complexities of Mendelian genetics, which were being rapidly developed at the time. This lack of a strong foundation in modern genetics would later prove crucial to the propagation of his erroneous theories.

Lysenko began conducting experiments, particularly focusing on 'vernalization,' a process of treating seeds with cold temperatures to accelerate growth. He incorrectly claimed that vernalization could permanently alter the hereditary traits of plants. This initial success and his populist appeal among farmers struggling with harsh conditions garnered him early attention and support from Soviet authorities eager for agricultural breakthroughs.

Lysenko delivered a highly publicized speech where he denounced genetics as a 'bourgeois science' and promoted his own theories as a more 'proletarian' approach to agriculture. He claimed that acquired characteristics could be inherited, directly contradicting established genetic principles. This speech marked a turning point, as it aligned him with Stalin's ideological preferences and began the process of marginalizing geneticists in the Soviet Union.

Lysenko was appointed as the Director of the Institute of Genetics, effectively placing him in charge of Soviet genetics research. This appointment was made possible by the politically motivated persecution and elimination of prominent geneticists, including Nikolai Vavilov, who championed Mendelian genetics and opposed Lysenko's ideas. Lysenko's appointment solidified his control over Soviet biology and agriculture, paving the way for the widespread implementation of his scientifically unsound theories.

The August Session of VASKhNIL formally denounced genetics as a pseudoscience. Backed by Stalin's personal approval (and his infamous statement, “Which science are we to follow – bourgeois science or Marxist science?”), Lysenkoism became the official state-approved biological theory. This led to the persecution, imprisonment, and even execution of geneticists who refused to renounce their beliefs. The consequences for Soviet agriculture were devastating, contributing significantly to famines and food shortages.

Lysenkoism was aggressively implemented throughout the Soviet Union and other communist countries. Standard agricultural practices were replaced with Lysenkoist methods, such as close planting and the 'cluster planting' of trees, which yielded disastrous results. Soviet agricultural productivity stagnated, while countries that embraced modern genetics achieved significant gains in crop yields.

Following Nikita Khrushchev's removal from power, Lysenko was removed from his position as Director of the Institute of Genetics. This marked a significant decline in his influence, although Lysenkoism continued to be practiced to some extent within the Soviet Union. The removal came after years of mounting evidence of the failure of Lysenkoist practices and increasing criticism from within the scientific community.

Trofim Lysenko died in obscurity in Kyiv. Despite his downfall, his legacy remains a cautionary tale about the dangers of politically motivated science and the suppression of scientific inquiry. The damage he inflicted on Soviet agriculture and genetics took decades to repair, and his name is now synonymous with pseudoscience and intellectual dishonesty.