Sol Spiegelman
Encyclopedia
Sol Spiegelman was an American molecular biologist
. He developed the technique of nucleic acid hybridization, which helped to lay the groundwork for advances in recombinant DNA
technology.
Spiegelman was born and educated in New York City
, and earned a bachelor's degree
in mathematics
from the City College of New York
in 1939. He began his graduate studies at Columbia University
in 1940, looking into cellular physiology. He completed his graduate studies at Washington University in St. Louis
(1942-44) where he also lectured in physics and applied mathematics, receiving his doctorate there in 1944. After a year as a U.S. Public Health Service Fellow at the University of Minnesota
, he joined the faculty of the University of Illinois
and later became a professor of microbiology where he stayed for 20 years.
In 1962, he developed a technique that allowed the detection of specific RNA and DNA molecules in cells. Called nucleic acid hybridization, it was the combination of viral DNA and viral RNA which helped to lay the groundwork for advances in recombinant DNA
technology.
In 1969 he became a professor of human genetics and development at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
as well as director of the Institute of Cancer Research in 1969. In 1975, he was named University Professor.
He investigated how cells form enzymes, DNA
and RNA
structures, virology
and the molecular basis of cancer
. He is credited with an experiment with self reproducing RNA structures called Spiegelman's Monster
.
He received the Lasker Award
in 1974 for his 1965 work on Qβ RNA. In 1981 he received the Antonio Feltrinelli International prize in Biology for his contributions to molecular biology. He published more than 350 papers.
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
. He developed the technique of nucleic acid hybridization, which helped to lay the groundwork for advances in recombinant DNA
Recombinant DNA
Recombinant DNA molecules are DNA sequences that result from the use of laboratory methods to bring together genetic material from multiple sources, creating sequences that would not otherwise be found in biological organisms...
technology.
Spiegelman was born and educated in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
from the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
in 1939. He began his graduate studies 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...
in 1940, looking into cellular physiology. He completed his graduate studies 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...
(1942-44) where he also lectured in physics and applied mathematics, receiving his doctorate there in 1944. After a year as a U.S. Public Health Service Fellow at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, he joined the faculty of the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
and later became a professor of microbiology where he stayed for 20 years.
In 1962, he developed a technique that allowed the detection of specific RNA and DNA molecules in cells. Called nucleic acid hybridization, it was the combination of viral DNA and viral RNA which helped to lay the groundwork for advances in recombinant DNA
Recombinant DNA
Recombinant DNA molecules are DNA sequences that result from the use of laboratory methods to bring together genetic material from multiple sources, creating sequences that would not otherwise be found in biological organisms...
technology.
In 1969 he became a professor of human genetics and development at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, often known as P&S, is a graduate school of Columbia University that is located on the health sciences campus in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan...
as well as director of the Institute of Cancer Research in 1969. In 1975, he was named University Professor.
He investigated how cells form enzymes, 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....
structures, virology
Virology
Virology is the study of viruses and virus-like agents: their structure, classification and evolution, their ways to infect and exploit cells for virus reproduction, the diseases they cause, the techniques to isolate and culture them, and their use in research and therapy...
and the molecular basis of 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...
. He is credited with an experiment with self reproducing RNA structures called Spiegelman's Monster
Spiegelman Monster
Spiegelman Monster is the name given to an RNA chain of only 218 nucleotides that is able to be reproduced by an RNA replication enzyme. It is named after its creator, Sol Spiegelman, of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.-Description:...
.
He received the Lasker Award
Lasker Award
The Lasker Awards have been awarded annually since 1946 to living persons who have made major contributions to medical science or who have performed public service on behalf of medicine. They are administered by the Lasker Foundation, founded by advertising pioneer Albert Lasker and his wife Mary...
in 1974 for his 1965 work on Qβ RNA. In 1981 he received the Antonio Feltrinelli International prize in Biology for his contributions to molecular biology. He published more than 350 papers.
External links
- Sol Spiegelman Papers (1929-1983) - National Library of Medicine finding aid
- The Sol Spiegelman Papers - Profiles in Science, National Library of Medicine