George Church
Encyclopedia
George Church is an American molecular geneticist
. He is currently Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School
, Professor of Health Sciences and Technology at Harvard and MIT, and a core faculty member at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering
at Harvard University.
With Walter Gilbert
he developed the first direct genomic sequencing method in 1984 and helped initiate the Human Genome Project
in 1984 while he was a Research Scientist at newly formed Biogen Inc. He invented the broadly applied concepts of molecular multiplexing
and tags, homologous recombination methods, and DNA array synthesizers. Technology transfer of automated sequencing & software to Genome Therapeutics Corp. resulted in the first commercial genome sequence, (the human pathogen
, Helicobacter pylori
) in 1994.
He initiated the Personal Genome Project
(PGP) in 2005, and, in 2007, he founded the U.S. personal genomics company Knome
(with Jorge Conde and Sundar Subramaniam). He does research on synthetic biology
and is director of the U.S. Department of Energy
Center on Bioenergy at Harvard & MIT and director of the National Institutes of Health
(NHGRI) Center of Excellence in Genomic Science at Harvard.
He has been advisor to 22 companies, co-founding (with Joseph Jacobson
, Jay Keasling
, and Drew Endy
) Codon Devices, a biotech startup dedicated to synthetic biology
, which produces DNA
sequences to order. With Chris Somerville, Jay Keasling
, Noubar Afeyan, and David Berry he founded LS9
, which is focused on biofuels or renewable petroleum technologies.
In 2009 he founded Pathogenica, with Yemi Adesokan, in order to pioneer commercial applications for pathogen sequencing technology.
In September 2010, Dr. Church was honored for his work in Genetics with the Mass High Tech All-Star Award. He is a senior editor for Molecular Systems Biology
.
According to Forbes, Church suffers from narcolepsy
.
Geneticist
A geneticist is a biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a researcher or lecturer. Some geneticists perform experiments and analyze data to interpret the inheritance of skills. A geneticist is also a Consultant or...
. He is currently Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
, Professor of Health Sciences and Technology at Harvard and MIT, and a core faculty member at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering
The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering is a cross-disciplinary institute at Harvard University which focuses on emulating nature's design principles to engineer new bioinspired materials and devices with applications in healthcare, manufacturing, robotics, energy, and sustainable...
at Harvard University.
With Walter Gilbert
Walter Gilbert
Walter Gilbert is an American physicist, biochemist, molecular biology pioneer, and Nobel laureate.-Biography:Gilbert was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 21, 1932...
he developed the first direct genomic sequencing method in 1984 and helped initiate the Human Genome Project
Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project is an international scientific research project with a primary goal of determining the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up DNA, and of identifying and mapping the approximately 20,000–25,000 genes of the human genome from both a physical and functional...
in 1984 while he was a Research Scientist at newly formed Biogen Inc. He invented the broadly applied concepts of molecular multiplexing
Multiplex (assay)
A multiplex assay is a type of laboratory procedure that simultaneously measures multiple analytes in a single assay. It is distinguished from procedures that measure one or a few analytes at a time...
and tags, homologous recombination methods, and DNA array synthesizers. Technology transfer of automated sequencing & software to Genome Therapeutics Corp. resulted in the first commercial genome sequence, (the human pathogen
Pathogen
A pathogen gignomai "I give birth to") or infectious agent — colloquially, a germ — is a microbe or microorganism such as a virus, bacterium, prion, or fungus that causes disease in its animal or plant host...
, Helicobacter pylori
Helicobacter pylori
Helicobacter pylori , previously named Campylobacter pyloridis, is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium found in the stomach. It was identified in 1982 by Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, who found that it was present in patients with chronic gastritis and gastric ulcers, conditions that were...
) in 1994.
He initiated the Personal Genome Project
Personal Genome Project
The Personal Genome Project is a long term, large cohort study which aims to sequence and publicize the complete genomes and medical records of 100,000 volunteers, in order to enable research into personalized medicine. It was initiated by Harvard University's George Church and announced in...
(PGP) in 2005, and, in 2007, he founded the U.S. personal genomics company Knome
Knome
Knome is an American personal genomics company that sells human whole genome and exome analysis and sequencing services to researchers and consumers...
(with Jorge Conde and Sundar Subramaniam). He does research on synthetic biology
Synthetic biology
Synthetic biology is a new area of biological research that combines science and engineering. It encompasses a variety of different approaches, methodologies, and disciplines with a variety of definitions...
and is director of the U.S. Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
Center on Bioenergy at Harvard & MIT and director of the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
(NHGRI) Center of Excellence in Genomic Science at Harvard.
He has been advisor to 22 companies, co-founding (with Joseph Jacobson
Joseph Jacobson
Joseph Jacobson, a native and resident of Newton, Massachusetts, is a tenured professor and head of the Molecular Machines group at the Center for Bits and Atoms at the MIT Media Lab...
, Jay Keasling
Jay Keasling
Dr. Jay D. Keasling is a Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He is also Associate Laboratory Director for Biosciences at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Founding Head of the Synthetic Biology Department in...
, and Drew Endy
Drew Endy
Drew Endy is a synthetic biologist.He was a junior fellow for 3 years and later an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Engineering at MIT. In September 2008, he moved to Palo Alto to become an assistant professor in the Department of Bioengineering at Stanford University...
) Codon Devices, a biotech startup dedicated to synthetic biology
Synthetic biology
Synthetic biology is a new area of biological research that combines science and engineering. It encompasses a variety of different approaches, methodologies, and disciplines with a variety of definitions...
, which produces DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
sequences to order. With Chris Somerville, Jay Keasling
Jay Keasling
Dr. Jay D. Keasling is a Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He is also Associate Laboratory Director for Biosciences at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Founding Head of the Synthetic Biology Department in...
, Noubar Afeyan, and David Berry he founded LS9
LS9, Inc
LS9, Inc is a biotechnology startup located in South San Francisco, specializing in the development of renewable biofuels using synthetic biology. Describing itself as being in the "prerevenue" stage,, it has received some $20m in funding from Khosla Ventures and Flagship Ventures.LS9's CEO is Ed...
, which is focused on biofuels or renewable petroleum technologies.
In 2009 he founded Pathogenica, with Yemi Adesokan, in order to pioneer commercial applications for pathogen sequencing technology.
In September 2010, Dr. Church was honored for his work in Genetics with the Mass High Tech All-Star Award. He is a senior editor for Molecular Systems Biology
Molecular Systems Biology
Molecular Systems Biology is an open-access peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing research within systems biology at the molecular level, including genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microbial systems, the integration of cell signaling and regulatory networks, and synthetic biology.The...
.
According to Forbes, Church suffers from narcolepsy
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder, or dyssomnia, characterized by excessive sleepiness and sleep attacks at inappropriate times, such as while at work. People with narcolepsy often experience disturbed nocturnal sleep and an abnormal daytime sleep pattern, which often is confused with insomnia...
.