Jan Mohr
Encyclopedia
Jan Gunnar Faye Mohr, was a Norwegian
-Danish
physician
and geneticist
, known for his discovery of the first cases of autosomal genetic linkage
in man, between the Lutheran
blood groups and the ABH-secretor system, and between these and the hereditary
disease myotonic dystrophy
. Besides being first steps in mapping the human genome
, the findings illustrated the medical potential of linkage analysis in prenatal genetic diagnosis.
Mohr is eponymously known by the syndrome
Mohr-Tranebjærg, a progressive deafness with X-linked mode of inheritance, which was first described by Jan Mohr, and then more comprehensively by Tranebjærg et al. The 'Mohr syndrome', or oral-facial-digital syndrome type II, is named after Otto Lous Mohr, uncle of Jan Mohr.
. His father was the Norwegian painter Hugo Lous Mohr. Jan Mohr graduated 1948 from medical school
, Oslo University. Then, under the Rockefeller Foundation
, studied genetics at Columbia University
, University College London
and the Institute of Medical Genetics, Copenhagen University.
Dr.med at Copenhagen
University 1954. Member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters
1968.
At the University in Oslo
he established and directed through the years 1954-1964 the Institute of Medical Genetics, along somewhat similar lines as the Copenhagen Institute. In 1964 he succeeded Tage Kemp in the Chair as Professor
of Medical Genetics, Copenhagen University. Together with Hans Eiberg
he established Copenhagen Family Bank in 1972, a store of DNA
samples, comprising about 1000 large Danish families as a basis for a Resource Center for Linkage analysis, RC-LINK, to study also familial diseases such as cystic fibrosis
and Batten disease
, both of which are among diseases mapped at the center.
In 1968 Mohr introduced the concept of antenatal genetic diagnosis using sampled chorionic villi, and then together with N.Hahnemann developed the approach (for diagnosis early in pregnancy) towards clinical application.
Mohr founded and edited until his retirement the journal Clinical Genetics - An International Journal of Genetics in Medicine, as a sequel to the Opera series of the Copenhagen Institute, which had been discontinued. This was in cooperation with his two Nordic colleagues Kåre Berg
in Oslo and Jan Arvid Bøøk in Uppsala.
In 1966 Mohr was elected founding chairman of European Society of Human Genetics, and managed the Society through following years. As Professor emeritus
he pursued his genetic interests under the European Commission
as a concerted action project leader within cancer
genetics, with participation of research groups from most European countries.
Clinical Geneticshttp://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0009-9163&site=1
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
-Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and geneticist
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...
, known for his discovery of the first cases of autosomal genetic linkage
Genetic linkage
Genetic linkage is the tendency of certain loci or alleles to be inherited together. Genetic loci that are physically close to one another on the same chromosome tend to stay together during meiosis, and are thus genetically linked.-Background:...
in man, between the Lutheran
Lutheran antigen system
Lutheran antigen system is a human blood group system based upon genes on chromosome 19.This system is a single locus system, with antigens Lua and Lub. The Lu negative phenotype is very rare. Antibodies to Lutheran antigens are IgG...
blood groups and the ABH-secretor system, and between these and the hereditary
Heredity
Heredity is the passing of traits to offspring . This is the process by which an offspring cell or organism acquires or becomes predisposed to the characteristics of its parent cell or organism. Through heredity, variations exhibited by individuals can accumulate and cause some species to evolve...
disease myotonic dystrophy
Myotonic dystrophy
Myotonic dystrophy is a chronic, slowly progressing, highly variable inherited multisystemic disease. It is characterized by wasting of the muscles , cataracts, heart conduction defects, endocrine changes, and myotonia. Myotonic dystrophy can occur in patients of any age...
. Besides being first steps in mapping the human genome
Genome
In modern molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the entirety of an organism's hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA or, for many types of virus, in RNA. The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA....
, the findings illustrated the medical potential of linkage analysis in prenatal genetic diagnosis.
Mohr is eponymously known by the syndrome
Syndrome
In medicine and psychology, a syndrome is the association of several clinically recognizable features, signs , symptoms , phenomena or characteristics that often occur together, so that the presence of one or more features alerts the physician to the possible presence of the others...
Mohr-Tranebjærg, a progressive deafness with X-linked mode of inheritance, which was first described by Jan Mohr, and then more comprehensively by Tranebjærg et al. The 'Mohr syndrome', or oral-facial-digital syndrome type II, is named after Otto Lous Mohr, uncle of Jan Mohr.
Biography
Jan Mohr was born 1921 in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. His father was the Norwegian painter Hugo Lous Mohr. Jan Mohr graduated 1948 from medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
, Oslo University. Then, under the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
, studied genetics at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
and the Institute of Medical Genetics, Copenhagen University.
Dr.med at Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
University 1954. Member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters
Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters
Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters is a Danish non-governmental science Academy, founded 13 November 1742 by permission of the King Christian VI, as a historical Collegium Antiquitatum...
1968.
At the University in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
he established and directed through the years 1954-1964 the Institute of Medical Genetics, along somewhat similar lines as the Copenhagen Institute. In 1964 he succeeded Tage Kemp in the Chair as Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Medical Genetics, Copenhagen University. Together with Hans Eiberg
Hans Eiberg
Hans Eiberg, is a Danish geneticist, known for the discovery of the genetic mutation causing blue eyes.Hans Eiberg graduated as M.Sc. in 1970...
he established Copenhagen Family Bank in 1972, a store of 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...
samples, comprising about 1000 large Danish families as a basis for a Resource Center for Linkage analysis, RC-LINK, to study also familial diseases such as cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a recessive genetic disease affecting most critically the lungs, and also the pancreas, liver, and intestine...
and Batten disease
Batten disease
Batten disease is a rare, fatal autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder that begins in childhood...
, both of which are among diseases mapped at the center.
In 1968 Mohr introduced the concept of antenatal genetic diagnosis using sampled chorionic villi, and then together with N.Hahnemann developed the approach (for diagnosis early in pregnancy) towards clinical application.
Mohr founded and edited until his retirement the journal Clinical Genetics - An International Journal of Genetics in Medicine, as a sequel to the Opera series of the Copenhagen Institute, which had been discontinued. This was in cooperation with his two Nordic colleagues Kåre Berg
Kåre Berg
Kåre Ingmar Berg was a Norwegian MD, professor in medical genetics, physician-in-chief and well-cited researcher.-Education and positions:...
in Oslo and Jan Arvid Bøøk in Uppsala.
In 1966 Mohr was elected founding chairman of European Society of Human Genetics, and managed the Society through following years. As Professor emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
he pursued his genetic interests under the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
as a concerted action project leader within cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
genetics, with participation of research groups from most European countries.
External links
European Society of Human Genetics - ESHGhttp://www.eshg.orgClinical Geneticshttp://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0009-9163&site=1