Norman Pirie
Encyclopedia
Norman Wingate Pirie FRS (1 July 1907 - 29 March 1997)-was a British biochemist
and virologist who, along with Frederick Bawden, discovered that a virus can be crystallized by isolating tobacco mosaic virus
in 1936. This was an important milestone in understanding DNA
and RNA
.
He taught at his alma mater, Cambridge University, from 1932 to 1940. He later joined the Rothamsted Experimental Station
, becoming head of the biochemistry
department in 1947.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1949, delivered its Leeuwenhoek Lecture
in 1963 and won its Copley Medal
in 1971.
Biochemist
Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. Typical biochemists study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. The prefix of "bio" in "biochemist" can be understood as a fusion of "biological chemist."-Role:...
and virologist who, along with Frederick Bawden, discovered that a virus can be crystallized by isolating tobacco mosaic virus
Tobacco mosaic virus
Tobacco mosaic virus is a positive-sense single stranded RNA virus that infects plants, especially tobacco and other members of the family Solanaceae. The infection causes characteristic patterns on the leaves . TMV was the first virus to be discovered...
in 1936. This was an important milestone in understanding 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...
and RNA
RNA
Ribonucleic acid , or RNA, is one of the three major macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life....
.
He taught at his alma mater, Cambridge University, from 1932 to 1940. He later joined the Rothamsted Experimental Station
Rothamsted Experimental Station
The Rothamsted Experimental Station, one of the oldest agricultural research institutions in the world, is located at Harpenden in Hertfordshire, England. It is now known as Rothamsted Research...
, becoming head of the biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
department in 1947.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1949, delivered its Leeuwenhoek Lecture
Leeuwenhoek Lecture
The Leeuwenhoek Lecture is a prize lecture of the Royal Society originally given annually, but now every three years, on the subject of microbiology. It is named after the Dutch microscopist Anton van Leeuwenhoek and was instituted in 1948 from a bequest...
in 1963 and won its Copley Medal
Copley Medal
The Copley Medal is an award given by the Royal Society of London for "outstanding achievements in research in any branch of science, and alternates between the physical sciences and the biological sciences"...
in 1971.