Thomas J. King was an American biologist

Biologist

A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...

.

Biography

With Robert William Briggs, he worked on transplantation of somatic cell nuclei from adult frogs into enucleated oocyte

Oocyte

An oocyte, ovocyte, or rarely ocyte, is a female gametocyte or germ cell involved in reproduction. In other words, it is an immature ovum, or egg cell. An oocyte is produced in the ovary during female gametogenesis. The female germ cells produce a primordial germ cell which undergoes a mitotic...

s this leading to the first clone

Cloning

Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...

 of an animal in 1952. They were awarded in 1972 the highest honor of the French Academy: the Gran Prix Charles-Leopold Mayer

Gran Prix Charles-Leopold Mayer

The Grand Prix Charles-Léopold Mayer is awarded annually by the Académie des Sciences de l'Institut de France to researchers who have performed outstanding work in the biological sciences; especially in the areas of cell or molecular biology...

 of the Académie des Sciences, Institut de France

Institut de France

The Institut de France is a French learned society, grouping five académies, the most famous of which is the Académie française.The institute, located in Paris, manages approximately 1,000 foundations, as well as museums and chateaux open for visit. It also awards prizes and subsidies, which...

and were the first Americans to be so honored.

Sources

• Caskets On Parade