George Wells Beadle & Edward L. Tatum Autographs

Profession:
(1903-1989, Beadle) American scientist in the field of genetics, and Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Nobel laureate & (1909-1975, Tatum) American geneticist - he shared half of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1958 with George Wells Beadle for showing that genes control individual steps in metabolism

Year of Birth: 1903

George Wells Beadle was an American geneticist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1958 for his work on the genetic control of biochemical reactions in the fruit fly. He is best known for his work on the one-gene-one-enzyme hypothesis, which he proposed in 1941, which states that each gene codes for a single enzyme. He is also credited with discovering the genetic basis of eye color in fruit flies. Beadle's work laid the foundation for modern genetic research and laid the groundwork for the discovery of the genetic code and the field of molecular genetics.

Beadle was born in 1903 in Wahoo, Nebraska. He was the oldest of four children in a farming family. His family had a long history of agricultural work, which inspired Beadle to pursue a career in the agricultural sciences. He received his bachelor's degree in 1925 from the University of Nebraska and his PhD in 1927 from Cornell University. After graduating, he took a position at Harvard University and began working on the genetics of maize. It was at this time that he began to develop the one-gene-one-enzyme hypothesis.

Beadle went on to become a professor at the California Institute of Technology, where he continued his research on the genetics of maize. He also began to work on the genetics of the fruit fly, which led to his discovery of the genetic basis of eye color. In 1941, he proposed the one-gene-one-enzyme hypothesis, which states that each gene codes for a single enzyme. This hypothesis was later proven to be correct and laid the groundwork for modern genetic research.

Beadle went on to become the president of the California Institute of Technology in 1959 and then the president of the University of Chicago in 1968. During his tenure at the University of Chicago, he established the school as a major center for research in the biological sciences. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work on the genetics of the fruit fly in 1958. He was also awarded the National Medal of Science in 1964.

Beadle was an influential figure in the field of genetics, and his work helped to shape the modern understanding of the genetic code. His work laid the groundwork for the discovery of the genetic code and the field of molecular genetics. He was an advocate for science education and a mentor to many young scientists. He passed away in 1989 at the age of 85.

George Wells Beadle was an influential figure in the field of genetics, and his work helped to shape the modern understanding of the genetic code. His discoveries laid the foundation for modern genetic research and helped to usher in an era of new possibilities in the field. His legacy will continue to influence the field for generations to come.