Oscar Riddle
Encyclopedia
Oscar Riddle was an American biologist. He is known for his research into the pituitary gland
and for isolating the hormone prolactin
. Riddle was named the Humanist of the Year by the American Humanist Association
in 1958.
to Jonathan Riddle, Jr. and Amanda Emeline Carmichael Riddle where he was raised with his eight siblings. He received a B.S.
in biology from Indiana University
in 1902 and a PhD
in zoology at the University of Chicago
in 1907. He taught physiology and biology in Saint Louis, Missouri and Puerto Rico
. Intent on becoming an ichthyologist, Riddle embarked on natural history expeditions to the Orinoco River in South America and Cuba
. Upon his return, a lecture on evolution sparked his interest and in 1912 he became a research associate at the Carnegie Institution's Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
in Long Island. He served in the New York National Guard from 1916 to 1918 and the United States Army
from 1918 to 1920, where he was stationed in France.
. Riddle studied under Jacques Loeb
, and he and his colleagues were the first to isolate prolactin, which was named by Riddle in 1932. Riddle discovered that prolactin injections inhibited gonad growth in males and produced maternal behavior in females. His research demonstrated that prolactin and other hormones of the frontal lobe are disintegrated by the enzyme trypsin
. His work also showed that growth is a synergistic response to the hormones prolactin and thyrotropin. He earned a degree in law in 1933 and was featured on the cover of TIME
in 1939. Riddle retired in 1945.
and held the conviction that religion poses a serious threat to scientific advancements. He garnered national attention for a speech debunking superstition in 1936. His speech was delivered to the American Association for the Advancement of Science
and was published in the journal Science
and covered by the New York Times. In 1958, Riddle was named the Humanist of the Year by the American Humanist Association
. He was president of the American Rationalist Federation in 1959 and 1960.
Riddle married late in his life to Leona Lewis, a music teacher, in 1937. They had no children.
He died of prostate cancer
at the age of 91 in Plant City, Florida
in 1968.
Pituitary gland
In vertebrate anatomy the pituitary gland, or hypophysis, is an endocrine gland about the size of a pea and weighing 0.5 g , in humans. It is a protrusion off the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, and rests in a small, bony cavity covered by a dural fold...
and for isolating the hormone prolactin
Prolactin
Prolactin also known as luteotropic hormone is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PRL gene.Prolactin is a peptide hormone discovered by Henry Friesen...
. Riddle was named the Humanist of the Year by the American Humanist Association
American Humanist Association
The American Humanist Association is an educational organization in the United States that advances Humanism. "Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that...
in 1958.
Early career
Riddle was born in Cincinnati, IndianaCincinnati, Indiana
Cincinnati is an unincorporated town in Center Township, Greene County, Indiana....
to Jonathan Riddle, Jr. and Amanda Emeline Carmichael Riddle where he was raised with his eight siblings. He received a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in biology from Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
in 1902 and a PhD
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in zoology at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1907. He taught physiology and biology in Saint Louis, Missouri and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. Intent on becoming an ichthyologist, Riddle embarked on natural history expeditions to the Orinoco River in South America and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Upon his return, a lecture on evolution sparked his interest and in 1912 he became a research associate at the Carnegie Institution's Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is a private, non-profit institution with research programs focusing on cancer, neurobiology, plant genetics, genomics and bioinformatics. The Laboratory has a broad educational mission, including the recently established Watson School of Biological Sciences. It...
in Long Island. He served in the New York National Guard from 1916 to 1918 and the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1918 to 1920, where he was stationed in France.
Research
In his time, Riddle was one of the top biologists in the United States. His research spanned endocrinology, the physiology of reproduction, animal pigmentation, and the nature and functional basis of sex. He is most remembered for his research into the major pituitary hormone prolactinProlactin
Prolactin also known as luteotropic hormone is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PRL gene.Prolactin is a peptide hormone discovered by Henry Friesen...
. Riddle studied under Jacques Loeb
Jacques Loeb
Jacques Loeb was a German-born American physiologist and biologist.-Biography:...
, and he and his colleagues were the first to isolate prolactin, which was named by Riddle in 1932. Riddle discovered that prolactin injections inhibited gonad growth in males and produced maternal behavior in females. His research demonstrated that prolactin and other hormones of the frontal lobe are disintegrated by the enzyme trypsin
Trypsin
Trypsin is a serine protease found in the digestive system of many vertebrates, where it hydrolyses proteins. Trypsin is produced in the pancreas as the inactive proenzyme trypsinogen. Trypsin cleaves peptide chains mainly at the carboxyl side of the amino acids lysine or arginine, except when...
. His work also showed that growth is a synergistic response to the hormones prolactin and thyrotropin. He earned a degree in law in 1933 and was featured on the cover of TIME
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
in 1939. Riddle retired in 1945.
Humanism
Riddle was a devout atheistAtheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
and held the conviction that religion poses a serious threat to scientific advancements. He garnered national attention for a speech debunking superstition in 1936. His speech was delivered to the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
and was published in the journal Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
and covered by the New York Times. In 1958, Riddle was named the Humanist of the Year by the American Humanist Association
American Humanist Association
The American Humanist Association is an educational organization in the United States that advances Humanism. "Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that...
. He was president of the American Rationalist Federation in 1959 and 1960.
Riddle married late in his life to Leona Lewis, a music teacher, in 1937. They had no children.
He died of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
at the age of 91 in Plant City, Florida
Plant City, Florida
Plant City is a city in Hillsborough County, Florida, in the United States, approximately midway between Brandon and Lakeland along Interstate 4. The population was 34,721 at the 2010 census....
in 1968.
Publications
- Endocrines and Constitution in Doves and Pigeons (1947)
- The Unleashing of Evolutionary Thought (1952)