Mary F. Lyon
Encyclopedia
Mary Frances Lyon, FRS (born 15 May 1925 in Norwich
, England
) is an English geneticist
, who is best known for her discovery of X-chromosome inactivation, an important cytogenetic phenomenon.
, funded by the Medical Research Council
to investigate mutagenesis
and the genetic risks of radiation
. In 1955, her group moved to the MRC radiobiology unit in Harwell. She has published many papers on radiation and chemical mutagenesis and on studies of mutant genes. She was head of the Genetics Section of the MRC Radiology Unit at Harwell from 1962 to 1987. She retired from active research in 1990.
It was while working on radiation hazards in 1961 that she discovered X-chromosome inactivation, for which she is best known. Her research has allowed us to understand the genetic control mechanisms of chromosome X, which explains the absence of symptoms in numerous healthy women that are carriers of diseases associated with this chromosome. An example is Duchenne muscular dystrophy
. She has also done extensive work on the mouse t-complex, and made many other contributions to mammalian genetics.
Mary Frances Lyon is a Fellow of the Royal Society, a Foreign Associate of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1994 she won the Mauro Baschirotto Award in Human Genetics, in 1997 the Wolf Prize for Medicine, for her hypothesis concerning the random inactivation of X-chromosomes in mammals. In 1997 she also received the Amory Prize, for genetic discoveries relating to mammalian sex chromosomes. In 2004 she was awarded the March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology
. In 2006 she received the Pearl Meister Greengard Prize
awarded by the Rockefeller University.
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is an English 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...
, who is best known for her discovery of X-chromosome inactivation, an important cytogenetic phenomenon.
Childhood and education
Mary Lyon was born on 15 May 1925 in Norwich, England as the daughter of a civil servant and a schoolteacher. She was educated at a grammar school in Birmingham. During the second world war, she persued her studies at Girton College a the university of Cambridge where she read zoology, physiology, organic chemistry and biochemistry, with zoology as her main subject. During that time she became interested in embryology. She went on to do her PhD with R A Fisher, who was Professor of Genetics in Cambridge, where she characterized a mutant mice strain. During the course of her PhD she moved to Edinburgh.Research
After her PhD Mary Lyon joined the group of Conrad Hal WaddingtonConrad Hal Waddington
Conrad Hal Waddington CBE FRS FRSE was a developmental biologist, paleontologist, geneticist, embryologist and philosopher who laid the foundations for systems biology...
, funded by the Medical Research Council
Medical Research Council
Medical Research Council may refer to:* Medical Research Council , a UK organisation* National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia's peak funding body for medical research...
to investigate mutagenesis
Mutagenesis
Mutagenesis is a process by which the genetic information of an organism is changed in a stable manner, resulting in a mutation. It may occur spontaneously in nature, or as a result of exposure to mutagens. It can also be achieved experimentally using laboratory procedures...
and the genetic risks of radiation
Radiation
In physics, radiation is a process in which energetic particles or energetic waves travel through a medium or space. There are two distinct types of radiation; ionizing and non-ionizing...
. In 1955, her group moved to the MRC radiobiology unit in Harwell. She has published many papers on radiation and chemical mutagenesis and on studies of mutant genes. She was head of the Genetics Section of the MRC Radiology Unit at Harwell from 1962 to 1987. She retired from active research in 1990.
It was while working on radiation hazards in 1961 that she discovered X-chromosome inactivation, for which she is best known. Her research has allowed us to understand the genetic control mechanisms of chromosome X, which explains the absence of symptoms in numerous healthy women that are carriers of diseases associated with this chromosome. An example is Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a recessive X-linked form of muscular dystrophy, which results in muscle degeneration, difficulty walking, breathing, and death. The incidence is 1 in 3,000 boys. Females and males are affected, though females are rarely affected and are more often carriers...
. She has also done extensive work on the mouse t-complex, and made many other contributions to mammalian genetics.
Mary Frances Lyon is a Fellow of the Royal Society, a Foreign Associate of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1994 she won the Mauro Baschirotto Award in Human Genetics, in 1997 the Wolf Prize for Medicine, for her hypothesis concerning the random inactivation of X-chromosomes in mammals. In 1997 she also received the Amory Prize, for genetic discoveries relating to mammalian sex chromosomes. In 2004 she was awarded the March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology
March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology
The March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology is awarded once a year by the March of Dimes. It carries a $250,000 award "to an investigator whose research brings us closer to the day when all babies will be born healthy." It also includes a medal in the shape of a Roosevelt dime.- Laureates...
. In 2006 she received the Pearl Meister Greengard Prize
Pearl Meister Greengard Prize
The Pearl Meister Greengard Prize is an award for women scientists in biology given annually by .The Prize was founded by Nobel laureate Paul Greengard and his wife Ursula von Rydingsvard in honor of Greengard's mother, Pearl Meister Greengard, who died giving birth to him. Greengard began funding...
awarded by the Rockefeller University.
Awards and recognition
- In 1973 Mary Lyon was elected Fellow of the Royal SocietyRoyal SocietyThe Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
. - In 1979 she became Foreign Associate of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.
- In 1984 she won the Royal MedalRoyal MedalThe Royal Medal, also known as The Queen's Medal, is a silver-gilt medal awarded each year by the Royal Society, two for "the most important contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge" and one for "distinguished contributions in the applied sciences" made within the Commonwealth of...
of the Royal Society. - In 1994 she won the Mauro Baschirotto Award in Human Genetics.
- In 1997 she was awarded the Wolf Prize in MedicineWolf Prize in MedicineThe Wolf Prize in Medicine is awarded once a year by the Wolf Foundation in Israel. It is one of the six Wolf Prizes established by the Foundation and awarded since 1978; the others are in Agriculture, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Arts. The Prize is probably the third most prestigious award...
. - In 1997 she also received the Amory Prize.
- In 2004 she was awarded the March of Dimes Prize in Developmental BiologyMarch of Dimes Prize in Developmental BiologyThe March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology is awarded once a year by the March of Dimes. It carries a $250,000 award "to an investigator whose research brings us closer to the day when all babies will be born healthy." It also includes a medal in the shape of a Roosevelt dime.- Laureates...
. - In 2006 she received the Pearl Meister Greengard PrizePearl Meister Greengard PrizeThe Pearl Meister Greengard Prize is an award for women scientists in biology given annually by .The Prize was founded by Nobel laureate Paul Greengard and his wife Ursula von Rydingsvard in honor of Greengard's mother, Pearl Meister Greengard, who died giving birth to him. Greengard began funding...
.
