Pharmacogenomics: Using DNA to Save Lives
Hippocrates
460 B.C.
He is credited to having humane treatment and is a notable figure during the time period (1). While the Hippocrates writtings bear his name, it is believed that Hippocrates, himself, had little part in its' creation(1). The writings include basic body functions and what was then known about disease (1). Based on the writings, it can be inferred that this individual was important and new discoveries were frequent through the participation of ithese ndividuals. The writings also adds information about political and philosophical arguments that are commonly debated to this day in medicine (1).Hippocrates represents everyone who discovers new things in the field of science and inspires future generations to explore and discover.
Leonardo Da Vinci
1489 A.D.
While Leonardo Da Vinci is most well-known for his massive and beautiful art, like the Mona Lisa, Da Vinci also saw the importance of science. Da Vinci believed art and science to be related and that ideas could be transferred from one field to another (2). Along with his interests in art, Da Vinci is known for learning more about the world around him, human anatomy, scientific laws, and he also documented these foundings (2). Da Vinci truly was an inventor and a major discoverer for his time period. Da Vinci represents all who discover because one enjoys learning or discovering. Da Vinci proves that advancing of science can truly help all of mankind and one person's involvement can truly change any field.
Gregor Mendel
1866 A.D.
Gregor Mendel, who is considered to be the father of genetics, faced many challenges throughout his scientific work. Despite various illness, family influence, and his own lack of education, Mendel prevailed in his studies of science (3). Mendel was also known to teach different levels of science in the monastery where he lived (3). Through his research using both animal organisms and plant organisms, Mendel was able to study scientific principles (3). Mendel specific focus was on how traits were inherritated and the genetics traits and outcomes that resulted (3). While he shared his results, Mendel's work was vastly forgotten (3). Mendel represents those in humanity who must face many difficulties to fully reach their dreams or continue to do what one loves. Mendel inspires future generations to focus on pleasing oneself instead of pleasing others.
Fredrick Mischer
1869 A.D.
Fredrick Mischer was the first person to discover DNA. While Watson and Crick are often credited with any type of discovery related to DNA, Fredrick Mischer found, isolated, and identified DNA. (4). (More information about Watson and Crick and their discoveries can be found further down the page). One of Mischer achievements was the he was able to "chemically characterize DNA" (4). He is known for his distinction that DNA was different for each organism which was revolutionary at the time (4). He once stated, " [ that DNA] cannot belong among any of the protein substances known hitherto" (4). He is also credited with showing where DNA comes from, the nucleus, and named it Nuclein (4). He also explained that DNA is contained in other cells (now it is known that DNA is in all cells) and that DNA is made up of many common elements (4). Mischer shows future scientists that one discovery, however small, can make a huge impact and greatly impact future discoveries.
Sir Archibald Edward Garrod
1902 A.D.
Archibald Edward Garrod is known for his questioning of the metabolism (a system the body uses to maintain energy) ideals at that time (5). He is also known for finding errors within these ideals about the metabolism (5). Garrod is also known for continuing a hypothesis about Alkaptonuria (5). Alkaptonuria is known turning urine black when exposed to air due to a lack of or small amount of an enzyme ( a protein that is involved in chemical reactions) (5). The legacy that Archibald Edward Garrod leaves is one of continuing questioning. Garrod shows that it is okay for one to question, investigate, and make inferences about something until more is known about that item.
Oswald Avery
1944 A.D.
Oswald Avery is best known for his research and uncovering that DNA "serves as genetic material" (6). Avery's work further excelled the field of genetics and gave other researchers the ability to experiment more due to this newfound knowledge (6). He also published a paper that proved that an unknown substance was actually DNA (6). Through his discoveries Avery made a great impact on the field of microbiology and the field of genetics. Avery shows the importance of writing and explaining one's discovery to others.
Erwin Chargaff
1950 A.D.
Erwin Chargaff, is best known for his contributions to the study of DNA (7). His research played a key role in the discovery of Watson and Crick (7). For more information about Watson and Crick, travel further down this page. He pointed out that DNA was in every organism, but DNA is made up of different components to make the organisms different, leading to the connection that DNA is genetic material (7). "Chargaff discovered that the proportions of bases in DNA depended on the species the DNA had come from" (7). Chargaff also identified that DNA has 1:1 base ratio (7). "Chargaff learned that Adenine pairs with Thymine and Guanine pairs with Cytosine at a 1:1 ratio, but distinct species have a different ratio like A:G" (7). These became known as Chargaff's rules. Chargaff's importance through his research shows that it takes many ideas and scientists to be able to make a discovery become common knowledge.
Rosalind Franklin
1952 A.D.
Rosalind Franklin is relatively unknown in the field of science. Though her discovery led other scientists to discover and create common knowledge, she received little, if any, credit (8). She was an expert in the field X-Ray crystallography (8). Through her two high resolution pictures, Franklin was able to estimate the “basic dimensions of DNA strands and that phosphates were on the outside of what was probably a helical structure” (8). Franklin represents those that make great contributions to the field of science and inspires future scientists, especially women, that anyone can make a difference and lead to important discoveries.
James Waston and Francis Crick
1953 A.D.
Watson and Crick are some of the most well known scientists in history and most notably in the field of genetics and DNA. While Watson and Crick did not give full credit to Wilkons’ and Franklin’s X-Rays of DNA, Watson and Crick made substational discoveries in science. They realized that DNA was in a double helix structure (9). “Their model served to explain how DNA replicates and how hereditary information is coded on it” (9). Watson and Crick recieved the Nobel Prize in Medicine (9). Watson and Crick represent those that discover important ideas in science and make an impact on the field. Watson and Crick inspire future scientists to make any discovery one can and it will make a huge impact on the field of science.
Marshall Nirenberg and Johann Matthaei,
Har Gobind Khorana,
Robert W. Holley
1965 A.D.
Marshall Nirenberg is known for having "discovered the first 'triplet'—a sequence of three bases of DNA that codes for one of the twenty amino acids that serve as the building blocks of proteins" (10). This led to the discovery of understanding the entire genetic code (10). Nirenberg and Matthaei were able to find that the DNA bases uracil, cytosine, adenine, and guanine, could be used by RNA to make a protein chain (10). The different order of the DNA bases would alter the RNA protein chain (10). Khorana was able to reproduce the results of Nirenberg's and Matthaei's experiment (10). Through continuous research, Nuremberg was able to discover 60 or more out of the 64 base sequences possible (10). Holley also added to the knowledge of the RNA sequencing (11). "Nirenberg, Khorana, and Holley, received the 1968 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and for their interpretation of the genetic code and its function in protein synthesis" (10). Without the teamwork efforts of these three scientists, the discoveries would not have been possible. Their example shows the importance of teamwork and sharing results and ideas to better humanity.
Fredrick Sanger
1977 A.D.
While Fredrick Sanger is relatively unknown, his discoveries were instrumental to the work of science and understanding of science as we know it. "He was the first person to obtain a protein sequence" (12). "Sanger proved that proteins were ordered molecules and by analogy, the genes and DNA that make these proteins should have an order or sequence as well" (12). These discoveries occurred in 1939 (12). Sanger continued to work with other notable scientists on discovering more about DNA (12). He received his first Nobel Prize in 1958 and shared his second with others in 1980 (12). Without him, the field of science would be much more different and less advances than we know it today. Sanger is one of many who represent the power one person has on the lives of humanity and the impact one can make in the field of science.
Anne Wojcicki
2006
Anne Wojcicki is a well-known woman pioneer of the genetic field. She co-founded 23andme, a genetic testing company that tests your DNA to find your ancestory and health information (13). She wants to make the health care system more individual based (13). Wojcicki continues to led the biotechnology industry and evolve her company. Wojcicki is an inspiration to all that want to make a new company that involves science and wish to push the envelope of how science is defined.