WhatIsBiotechnology
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WhatIsBiotechnology is a leading educational and public engagement platform that brings together the stories about the sciences, people and places that have enabled biotechnology to transform medicine and the world we live in today.
1/ John D Smith was born in Southampton, UK, 8 Dec 1924. A molecular biologist, Smith was a key pioneer in nucleic acid research. One of the few to realise the importance of nucleic acids before Watson and Crick uncovered the structure of DNA in 1953
December 8, 2025 at 1:46 PM
1/ John D Smith was born in Southampton, UK, 8 Dec 1924. A molecular biologist, Smith was a key pioneer in nucleic acid research. One of the few to realise the importance of nucleic acids before Watson and Crick uncovered the structure of DNA in 1953
3/Cech discovered that unprocessed RNA molecules could splice themselves and showed that RNA molecules are not restricted to being passive carriers of genetic information.
December 8, 2025 at 1:45 PM
3/Cech discovered that unprocessed RNA molecules could splice themselves and showed that RNA molecules are not restricted to being passive carriers of genetic information.
1/ Carl R Moore was born in Missouri, USA, 5 Dec 1892. Moore was a zoologist who devoted his career to studying the reoproductive tract of male mammals and the physiology of spermatozoa.
December 5, 2025 at 8:43 AM
1/ Carl R Moore was born in Missouri, USA, 5 Dec 1892. Moore was a zoologist who devoted his career to studying the reoproductive tract of male mammals and the physiology of spermatozoa.
1/ Carl F Cori was born in Prague, Austria-Hungary (now Czech Republic), 5 Dec 1896. Cori was a biochemist and pharmacologist who, together with his wife Gerty Cori, helped to discover how the body metabolises glycogen, which is important to how the body stores energy.
December 5, 2025 at 8:41 AM
1/ Carl F Cori was born in Prague, Austria-Hungary (now Czech Republic), 5 Dec 1896. Cori was a biochemist and pharmacologist who, together with his wife Gerty Cori, helped to discover how the body metabolises glycogen, which is important to how the body stores energy.
1/ Hilary Koprowski was born in Warsaw, Poland, 5 Dec 1916. A virologist, Koprowski invented the world's first effective live polio vaccine while at Lederle Laboratories. He developed the vaccine by attenuating the virus in brain cells of a cotton rat
December 5, 2025 at 8:40 AM
1/ Hilary Koprowski was born in Warsaw, Poland, 5 Dec 1916. A virologist, Koprowski invented the world's first effective live polio vaccine while at Lederle Laboratories. He developed the vaccine by attenuating the virus in brain cells of a cotton rat
1/ On 4 Dec 1915 the first discovery of a bacteriophage was reported. Bacteriophages, also called phages, are a group of viruses that infect bacteria. It was first observed by the English bacteriologist Frederick Twort.
December 4, 2025 at 8:47 AM
1/ On 4 Dec 1915 the first discovery of a bacteriophage was reported. Bacteriophages, also called phages, are a group of viruses that infect bacteria. It was first observed by the English bacteriologist Frederick Twort.
1/ Alfred D Hershey was born in Owosso, MI, USA, 4 Dec 1908. Hershey was a bacteriologist and geneticist. With Martha Chase he did a series of experiments in 1952 with bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) which confirmed that DNA, rather than proteins, carried genetic material.
December 4, 2025 at 8:46 AM
1/ Alfred D Hershey was born in Owosso, MI, USA, 4 Dec 1908. Hershey was a bacteriologist and geneticist. With Martha Chase he did a series of experiments in 1952 with bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) which confirmed that DNA, rather than proteins, carried genetic material.
1/ Carlos J Finlay was born in Puerto Príncipe, Cuba, on 3 Dec 1833. Finlay was an epidemiologist who is renowned for his pioneering research on yellow fever. He was the first to theorise that the mosquito carries the organism that causes yellow fever
December 3, 2025 at 9:16 AM
1/ Carlos J Finlay was born in Puerto Príncipe, Cuba, on 3 Dec 1833. Finlay was an epidemiologist who is renowned for his pioneering research on yellow fever. He was the first to theorise that the mosquito carries the organism that causes yellow fever
1/ Richard Kuhn was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, 3 Dec 1900. Kuhn was a biochemist who won 1938 #NobelPrize for Chemistry for his work on carostenoids, a group of nonnitrogenous yellow, orange and red pigments found in nature.
December 3, 2025 at 9:15 AM
1/ Richard Kuhn was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, 3 Dec 1900. Kuhn was a biochemist who won 1938 #NobelPrize for Chemistry for his work on carostenoids, a group of nonnitrogenous yellow, orange and red pigments found in nature.
1/ On this day, 1 Dec 2007 June Almeida died. June Almeida was a major pioneer of electron microscopy which helped transform knowledge about virology. She is best known for taking the first electron micrograph of the rubella virus and a human coronavirus.
December 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM
1/ On this day, 1 Dec 2007 June Almeida died. June Almeida was a major pioneer of electron microscopy which helped transform knowledge about virology. She is best known for taking the first electron micrograph of the rubella virus and a human coronavirus.
1. Charles S Sherrington was born in London, UK, on 27 Nov 1857. He was a neurophysiologist, histologist, bacteriologist, and a pathologist who conducted research into the function of neurons. Sherrington shared the 1932 #NobelPrize for showing reflexes need integrated activation.
November 27, 2025 at 9:16 AM
1. Charles S Sherrington was born in London, UK, on 27 Nov 1857. He was a neurophysiologist, histologist, bacteriologist, and a pathologist who conducted research into the function of neurons. Sherrington shared the 1932 #NobelPrize for showing reflexes need integrated activation.
1/ On 21 Nov 1959 Rosalyn Yalow and Soloman Berson published their radioimmunoassay method opening up a new era in immunology and diagnostics.
November 21, 2025 at 8:24 AM
1/ On 21 Nov 1959 Rosalyn Yalow and Soloman Berson published their radioimmunoassay method opening up a new era in immunology and diagnostics.
1. James B Collip was born in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, 20 Nov 1892. Collip was a Canadian biochemist refined methods to remove and purify insulin.
November 20, 2025 at 9:03 AM
1. James B Collip was born in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, 20 Nov 1892. Collip was a Canadian biochemist refined methods to remove and purify insulin.
1/ James B Sumner was born in Canton MA, USA, 19 Nov 1887. Sumner was a biochemist who showed that enzymes are proteins and can be crystalised, for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1946.
November 19, 2025 at 8:54 AM
1/ James B Sumner was born in Canton MA, USA, 19 Nov 1887. Sumner was a biochemist who showed that enzymes are proteins and can be crystalised, for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1946.
1/ Gladys Hobby was born on 19 Nov 1910. Hobby was a microbiologist whose work was pivotal to scaling up the production of penicillin in World War II and the development of other antibiotics.
November 19, 2025 at 8:53 AM
1/ Gladys Hobby was born on 19 Nov 1910. Hobby was a microbiologist whose work was pivotal to scaling up the production of penicillin in World War II and the development of other antibiotics.
1/ George E Palade was born in Iasi, Romania, on 19 Nov 1912. Palade was a cell biologist who helped determine cell function and organisation.
November 19, 2025 at 8:52 AM
1/ George E Palade was born in Iasi, Romania, on 19 Nov 1912. Palade was a cell biologist who helped determine cell function and organisation.
1/ Earl W Sutherland was born in Burlingame, Kansas, USA, 19 Nov 1915. Sutherland was a pharmacologist and biochemist who helped work out the action of hormones at the molecular level.
November 19, 2025 at 8:49 AM
1/ Earl W Sutherland was born in Burlingame, Kansas, USA, 19 Nov 1915. Sutherland was a pharmacologist and biochemist who helped work out the action of hormones at the molecular level.
1/ Fred Sanger, the inventor of DNA sequencing, died age of 95 on 19 Nov 2013. He was awarded a #NobelPrize twice: 1958 for determining the structure of insulin and 1980 for his pioneering DNA sequencing method.
November 19, 2025 at 8:47 AM
1/ Fred Sanger, the inventor of DNA sequencing, died age of 95 on 19 Nov 2013. He was awarded a #NobelPrize twice: 1958 for determining the structure of insulin and 1980 for his pioneering DNA sequencing method.
1/ George Wald was born in New York City, USA, 18 Nov 1906. Wald was a biologist renowned for his research on how the eye passes images to the brain. In the early 1930s he discovered that vitamin A was an important component in rhodopsin, a light-sensitive biological pigment found in the retina.
November 18, 2025 at 9:16 AM
1/ George Wald was born in New York City, USA, 18 Nov 1906. Wald was a biologist renowned for his research on how the eye passes images to the brain. In the early 1930s he discovered that vitamin A was an important component in rhodopsin, a light-sensitive biological pigment found in the retina.
November 2025 marks 70 years since Niels Jerne published a theory about antibody formation that revolutionised immunology. A new exhibition commemorates the landmark www.whatisbiotechnology.org/index.php/ex...
November 17, 2025 at 3:39 PM
November 2025 marks 70 years since Niels Jerne published a theory about antibody formation that revolutionised immunology. A new exhibition commemorates the landmark www.whatisbiotechnology.org/index.php/ex...
1/ Pierre Paul Émile Roux was born in Confolens, Francem 17 Nov 1853. A physician, bacteriologist and immunologist, Roux made his name working on diphtheria, a once fatal disease. In 1883 he helped to show that the disease was caused by a toxin secreted by the diphtheria bacillus.
November 17, 2025 at 3:33 PM
1/ Pierre Paul Émile Roux was born in Confolens, Francem 17 Nov 1853. A physician, bacteriologist and immunologist, Roux made his name working on diphtheria, a once fatal disease. In 1883 he helped to show that the disease was caused by a toxin secreted by the diphtheria bacillus.
1/ Hans Zinsser was born in New York City, USA, 17 Nov 1878. A physician and bacteriologist, Zinsser isolated the bacterium that causes typhus and developed a protective vaccine against it.
November 17, 2025 at 3:32 PM
1/ Hans Zinsser was born in New York City, USA, 17 Nov 1878. A physician and bacteriologist, Zinsser isolated the bacterium that causes typhus and developed a protective vaccine against it.
1/ Stanley Cohen was born in Brooklyn, NY, USA, 17 Nov 1922. Cohen was a biochemist who received the #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine in 1986 for helping to isolate the nerve growth factor that induces the differentiation of nerve tissue.
November 17, 2025 at 3:31 PM
1/ Stanley Cohen was born in Brooklyn, NY, USA, 17 Nov 1922. Cohen was a biochemist who received the #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine in 1986 for helping to isolate the nerve growth factor that induces the differentiation of nerve tissue.
November 15th 2025 marks 70 years since Niels Jerne, a London-born Danish immunologist, published a hypothesis about antibody formation that laid the foundation for modern immunology. To view the exhibition go to www.whatisbiotechnology.org/index.php/ex...
November 14, 2025 at 3:18 PM
November 15th 2025 marks 70 years since Niels Jerne, a London-born Danish immunologist, published a hypothesis about antibody formation that laid the foundation for modern immunology. To view the exhibition go to www.whatisbiotechnology.org/index.php/ex...
1/ Edward A Doisy was born in Hume, Illinois, USA, 13 Nov 1893. Doisy was a biochemist who helped isolate two forms of vitamin K and determine their chemical structure in 1936-39, for which he received the #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine in 1943.
November 13, 2025 at 8:49 AM
1/ Edward A Doisy was born in Hume, Illinois, USA, 13 Nov 1893. Doisy was a biochemist who helped isolate two forms of vitamin K and determine their chemical structure in 1936-39, for which he received the #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine in 1943.