Many chemists in the past contributed a lot to the development of chemistry. Not only chemicals from chemistry are beneficial for industry, but it is also beneficial for the development of biotechnology. Biotechnology is a technology that enhances biology. Without some chemical reaction or fusion, some biotechnology process may not happen. That is why chemists who work in biotechnology field are essential in its development. Below is the list of chemists who work in the biotechnology field .
- Alexander Fleming (1881 – 1955)
Penicillin is a life saving medicine but it was not discovered instantly. It was Alexander Fleming who discovered penicillin in his experiment with Penicillum mold. Before becoming scientist and microbiologist, Fleming experienced early loss of his father as he was born when his father is 59.
Later onn, he enrolled in Royal Polytechnic Institution . it was not until his brother suggested him to be physician that he began this career. His work of penicillin began when he experimented with the laboratory made Penicillum mold for microbology test. However, he found a product of biotechnology instead that result on penicillin. His discovery truly is essential for medical world.
- Alfred Day Hershey (1908-1997)
Another influential chemist in biotechnology is Alfred Day Hershey. He is famous for his finding of DNA. He graduated from Michigan State University in Bachelorof Science and began experimenting on the chemical reaction of microphanage. He studied the behaviour of bacteria and later found out that the source of genetic is DNA.
His finding of DNA helped in biotechnlogy to create biological product to certain aspects according to the DNA it has. Moreover, his work entitled him with Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. Therefore, he further encourage biotechnology by his discovery.
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3. Rudolf Jaenisch (1942 – present)
Rudolf Jaenisch is the first person who created transgenic animal. His study on transgendering living being opens an opportunity that living being can undergo gender transformation through some procedure. He contributed to the study of embryonic stem cells and cloning.
He got his doctorate degree in 2967 from University of Munich, Germany. Later on, he positioned as the head of tumor viirology in University of Hamburg. His most outstanding achievement is when he integrated foreign DNA to mouse embryo, making the mouse the first transgenic mammal. By his achievement, he received many awards in chemistry, biology, and medicine, making him one of the new millennium influential scientist.
4. Chaim Weizzmann (1874 – 1952)
Chaim Weizzmann is former Israel president who is also biochemist. He developed the fermentation of acetone along with butanol and ethanol. The discovery is a vital ingredient of cordite. He came from an economically low family and is the third of fifteen children. The government law make the family difficult but they managed to send Weizzman in orthodox schooling.
The one who graduated from this school usually becomes scientists and he was one of them. After his discovery of acetone, he continued teaching in university. Later on, he became more active as politician and then he became heleading spirit of World Zionist Organization. After he founded the organization, he became the first president of Republic Israel. Nonetheless, his scientific contribution is still influential.
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5. Paul Berg (1926 – present)
Paul Berg is an influential biochemist who is known for his recombination of DNA. He Is an alumni of Case Western Reserve University majoring in biochemistry. He spent his time researching and teaching on several universities. Berg also found out that the reason food converted into cellular is through the use of isotopic carbon and nitrogen atom. But only after he found the recombinant f DNA he became more famous.
He mixed two DNAs from different species and bring out only the positive trait of each species. Beecause of his influential discovery, he received Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1980. His passion on biochemistry continued and now he is active lecturer at Stanford.
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6. Jennifer Doudna (1964 – present)
Jennifer Doudna is an American biochemist known for her work in biochemistry. Her most outstanding work is her research on ribozyme. Doudna background is coming from fully academic atmosphere with her father a Phd in English Literature and her mother a master degree of education. Because of the intellectual pursuit her family encouraged her to be a biochemist following her curiousity about nature.
Doudna and her students conducted extensive research on ribozyme untilthey come wit complete information about RNA. RNA itself is important genetic factor just like DNA and it affects how biotechnology evolves. Because of her extensive research, she received many awards for individual and group research.
7. Cynthia Kenyon
Another outstanding female scientist is Cynthia Kenyon. She is the one who discovered method of living healthier and longer life. At first she began to research on double up the gene on roundworms. The result is the worm lives longer than the ordinary live span. Therefore, it gives her hope that same method will work for human. After extensive research, she is able to pinpoint the part of gene that is best to keep and what is not.
Moreover, she is also eager to use her discovery to prevent aging. Now with her other co scientists, she is working on perfecting her discovery to improve the lives of human through biotechnology with gene manipulation.
Other Chemist who Work in Biotechnology Field
List of other chemists who work in the biotechnology field :
- Emanuelle Charpentier
- Dusko Erlich
- Mathias Uhlen
- Elizabeth Holmes
- John Donoghue
- Jens Nielsen
- Luigi Naldini
- Luke O’Neill
Biotechnology is a mark of the evolution of science. The field is now currently budding as humans are eager to change aspect of the nature in order to enhance humanity and living being in general. That is all about chemists who work in biotechnology field.
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