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What is Elizabeth Blackburn famous for?
Elizabeth Blackburn has evolved from a self-described “lab rat” to an explorer in the realms of health and public policy. She discovered the molecular structure of telomeres and co-discovered the enzyme telomerase, essential pieces in the puzzle of cellular division and DNA replication.
Who discovered telomerase?
Elizabeth Blackburn
Carol Greider and Elizabeth Blackburn identified telomerase, the enzyme that makes telomere DNA. These discoveries explained how the ends of the chromosomes are protected by the telomeres and that they are built by telomerase. If the telomeres are shortened, cells age.
When was the telomere discovered?
The ends of eukaryotic chromosomes are called telomeres. They were discovered in the late 1930’s first in flies by Herman Muller and then in corn by Barbara McClintock (reviewed in [1]).
Where is Elizabeth Blackburn?
Blackburn splits her time living between La Jolla and San Francisco with her husband, scientist John W. Sedat, whom she met while at Cambridge, and has a son, Benjamin.
How old is Elizabeth Blackburn?
73 years (November 26, 1948)
Elizabeth Blackburn/Age
Where does Elizabeth Blackburn work now?
UCSF
Blackburn is currently a faculty member in Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at UCSF. She is also a Non-Resident Fellow of the Salk Institute. Throughout her career, Blackburn has been honored by her peers as the recipient of many prestigious awards.
Who won the biologist Nobel Prize in 2009?
Venki Ramakrishnan
| Venki Ramakrishnan | |
|---|---|
| Known for | Structure and function of the ribosome macromolecular crystallography |
| Awards | Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2009) Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine (2007) Knight Bachelor (2012) Padma Vibhushan (2010) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Biochemistry Biophysics |
Why does DNA shorten?
Why do telomeres get shorter? Your DNA strands become slightly shorter each time a chromosome replicates itself. Telomeres help prevent genes from being lost in this process. But this means that as your chromosomes replicate, your telomeres shorten.
How did Elizabeth Blackburn discovery help society?
In 1980, Elizabeth Blackburn discovered that telomeres have a particular DNA. In 1982, together with Jack Szostak, she further proved that this DNA prevents chromosomes from being broken down. Elizabeth Blackburn and Carol Greider discovered the enzyme telomerase, which produces the telomeres’ DNA, in 1984.
What did Elizabeth Blackburn discover about stress and how it effects your body?
For their research and contributions to the understanding of telomeres and the enzyme telomerase, Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider, and Jack Szostaks were awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.