Barbara Pearse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barbara Pearse
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|---|---|
| Born |
Barbara Mary Frances Pearse
24 March 1948 |
| Spouse(s) | Mark Bretscher |
| Awards |
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| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology |
Barbara Pearse is a brilliant British scientist. She was born on March 24, 1948, in Wraysbury, England. She is known for her important discoveries about tiny parts of cells.
Today, she works at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, United Kingdom. This is a famous place where scientists do amazing research.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Barbara Pearse went to the Lady Eleanor Holles School when she was younger. This school is in Hampton, near London.
After school, she studied at University College London. She earned her first degree from there in 1969.
A Career in Science
In 1982, Barbara Pearse joined the scientific team at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. This is where she has done much of her groundbreaking work.
Discovering Cell Secrets
Barbara Pearse's most important work is about something called "coated vesicles." Imagine tiny bubbles inside your cells. These bubbles carry important things around.
- She was the first to get these coated vesicles by themselves. This helped other scientists study them better.
- In 1975, she found a special molecule called clathrin. This molecule forms a "coat" around the vesicles. It helps them pick up and move things inside the cell.
Other scientists, like Thomas Roth and Keith Porter, first saw these coated vesicles in 1964. Later, in 1976, other researchers found how important they are. They learned that these vesicles help remove bad cholesterol, called LDL, from our blood.
Awards and Recognition
Barbara Pearse has received many honors for her scientific work.
- From 1984 to 1985, she was a visiting professor at Stanford University. She taught about cell biology there.
- In 1982, she became a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). This is a group of top scientists in Europe.
- EMBO gave her the prestigious EMBO Gold Medal in 1987. This award recognizes excellent young scientists.
- In 1988, she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom.
Personal Life
Barbara Pearse is married to Mark Bretscher. He is also a scientist.
