Herschel L. Roman
Encyclopedia
Herschel Lewis Roman was a geneticist
famous for popularizing the use of yeast
in genetic research.
Roman was born in Szumsk
in eastern Poland
on September 29, 1914. His father had moved to the United States
in anticipation of bringing Herschel and his mother, but mother and son were not able to arrive until 1921 because of World War I
. After that, he spent his early years in northern Minnesota
and Wisconsin
, then in St. Louis, where they had sent Herschel in advance to provide him with an urban high school
education. He enrolled at the University of Missouri
in 1932 and, majoring in chemistry and minoring in physics, graduated in 1936. During his senior year, he met Lewis Stadler
. For his graduate studies, Roman became Stadler's graduate student and switched to genetics.
In 1942, Roman received his Ph.D.
in genetics from the University of Missouri, moved to Seattle in September, and joined the faculty of the Department of Botany at the University of Washington
, where he would stay for the rest of his career. Around 1944, during World War II
, he entered the Army Air Force
, became a captain, and then returned to the University of Washington in 1946. He started studying the cytogenetics
of maize
, experimenting with their supernumerary B chromosome
s, but found that the maize with "interesting" genes were not hardy enough to grow west of the Cascade Mountains. After difficult experiences with growing maize in a greenhouse
, going to the California Institute of Technology
each summer from 1946 to 1948, and growing corn in Cle Elum, Washington
to get east of the Cascades, Roman decided to switch to studying Saccharomyces cerevisiae
instead. He invited Carl Lindegren, faculty member at Washington University in St. Louis
and the only yeast geneticist in the United States, to visit the University of Washington. From then on, Roman's concentration was on yeast genetics.
In 1952 and 1956, Roman spent sabbaticals in Paris. The University of Washington established its Department of Genetics in June 1959, with Roman as chairman; he held the seat until August 1980.
Roman, who fellow yeast geneticist Geovanni Magni declared to be the "Pope of yeast genetics", received numerous honors during his career. Roman was president of the Genetics Society of America
in 1968 and received its Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal
in 1985, and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 1969 and the National Academy of Sciences
in 1970. He also received honorary doctorates from Pierre and Marie Curie University
(University of Paris
6) and the University of Missouri
. He was also the founding editor of the Annual Review of Genetics.
Roman suffered a stroke
in January 1976. He remained active in research until his death from stroke at Swedish Hospital
in Seattle, Washington
, on July 2, 1989, aged 74.
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...
famous for popularizing the use of yeast
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
in genetic research.
Roman was born in Szumsk
Szumsk
Szumsk is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Dzierzgowo, within Mława County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately south-east of Dzierzgowo, east of Mława, and north of Warsaw.-References:...
in eastern Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
on September 29, 1914. His father had moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in anticipation of bringing Herschel and his mother, but mother and son were not able to arrive until 1921 because of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. After that, he spent his early years in northern Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
and Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, then in St. Louis, where they had sent Herschel in advance to provide him with an urban high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
education. He enrolled at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in 1932 and, majoring in chemistry and minoring in physics, graduated in 1936. During his senior year, he met Lewis Stadler
Lewis Stadler
Lewis John Stadler was an American geneticist. His research focused on the mutagenic effects of different forms of radiation on economically important plants like maize and barley.- Background :...
. For his graduate studies, Roman became Stadler's graduate student and switched to genetics.
In 1942, Roman received his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in genetics from the University of Missouri, moved to Seattle in September, and joined the faculty of the Department of Botany at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, where he would stay for the rest of his career. Around 1944, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he entered the Army Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
, became a captain, and then returned to the University of Washington in 1946. He started studying the cytogenetics
Cytogenetics
Cytogenetics is a branch of genetics that is concerned with the study of the structure and function of the cell, especially the chromosomes. It includes routine analysis of G-Banded chromosomes, other cytogenetic banding techniques, as well as molecular cytogenetics such as fluorescent in situ...
of maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, experimenting with their supernumerary B chromosome
B chromosome
In addition to the normal karyotype, wild populations of many animal, plant, and fungi species contain B chromosomes . By definition, these chromosomes are not essential for the life of a species, and are lacking in some of the individuals...
s, but found that the maize with "interesting" genes were not hardy enough to grow west of the Cascade Mountains. After difficult experiences with growing maize in a greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
, going to the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
each summer from 1946 to 1948, and growing corn in Cle Elum, Washington
Cle Elum, Washington
Cle Elum is a city in Kittitas County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,872 at the 2010 census. Only an hour and a half's drive from Seattle, Cle Elum is a popular area for camping and outdoor activities.-Early years and industries:...
to get east of the Cascades, Roman decided to switch to studying Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a species of yeast. It is perhaps the most useful yeast, having been instrumental to baking and brewing since ancient times. It is believed that it was originally isolated from the skin of grapes...
instead. He invited Carl Lindegren, faculty member at Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
and the only yeast geneticist in the United States, to visit the University of Washington. From then on, Roman's concentration was on yeast genetics.
In 1952 and 1956, Roman spent sabbaticals in Paris. The University of Washington established its Department of Genetics in June 1959, with Roman as chairman; he held the seat until August 1980.
Roman, who fellow yeast geneticist Geovanni Magni declared to be the "Pope of yeast genetics", received numerous honors during his career. Roman was president of the Genetics Society of America
Genetics Society of America
The Genetics Society of America is a scholarly membership society of more than 4000 genetics researchers and educators, established in 1931...
in 1968 and received its Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal
Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal
The Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal is a medal awarded for lifetime contributions to the field of genetics. The medal is awarded by the Genetics Society of America.-Award recipients:* 1981 Barbara McClintock and Marcus M. Rhoades* 1982 Sewall Wright...
in 1985, and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
in 1969 and the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 1970. He also received honorary doctorates from Pierre and Marie Curie University
Pierre and Marie Curie University
The Paris VI University , or the Pierre and Marie Curie University , is a university located on the Jussieu Campus in the Latin Quarter of the 5th arrondissement of Paris, France....
(University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
6) and the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
. He was also the founding editor of the Annual Review of Genetics.
Roman suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in January 1976. He remained active in research until his death from stroke at Swedish Hospital
Swedish Medical Center
Swedish Medical Center is a large nonprofit health care provider located in Seattle, Washington. It has three main hospital locations in Seattle and is also affiliated with many other suburban hospitals and clinics. As of 2009 it has 7000 employees and 2,300 credentialed physicians.-History:Swedish...
in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, on July 2, 1989, aged 74.