Bruce Alberts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bruce Alberts
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Bruce Alberts in 2023
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| 20th President of the National Academy of Sciences | |
| In office 1993–2005 |
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| Preceded by | Frank Press |
| Succeeded by | Ralph J. Cicerone |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Bruce Michael Alberts
April 14, 1938 Chicago, Illinois, U.S |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Betty Neary Alberts |
| Education | Harvard College (BSc 1960) Harvard University (PhD 1965) |
| Known for | Molecular Biology of the Cell |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Biochemistry Biophysics Cell biology |
| Institutions | Princeton University University of California, San Francisco |
| Thesis | Characterization of Naturally Occurring, Cross-Linked Fraction of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (1966) |
| Doctoral advisor | Paul Doty |
Bruce Michael Alberts (born April 14, 1938) is an American biochemist. He is a professor at the University of California, San Francisco. He is famous for his work on how living cells copy their chromosomes when they divide.
Alberts is also well-known as one of the original authors of Molecular Biology of the Cell. This is a very important and popular science textbook. He also served as the main editor for Science magazine. In 2014, he received the National Medal of Science. This award recognized his amazing work in understanding how DNA copies itself. It also honored his efforts to make science education better for everyone.
From 1993 to 2005, Alberts was the president of the National Academy of Sciences. This is a group of top scientists who advise the country on science. He has worked to shape science policy for the public. He even served as a US Science Envoy to countries like Pakistan and Indonesia.
Alberts believes that "Science education should be about learning to think and solve problems like a scientist." He thinks that everyone should learn to check facts using evidence and logic.
Contents
Learning and Early Research
Bruce Alberts went to New Trier High School in Illinois. After that, he studied at Harvard College. He first planned to become a doctor.
He found some of his lab classes a bit boring. So, he asked if he could work with his tutor, Jacques Fresco, in a real research lab. This was the lab of Paul M. Doty.
That summer, Bruce did research that led to two successful science papers. These papers were about mistakes that can happen in the twisted ladder shape of DNA and RNA. This experience made him decide to study biophysics instead of medicine. He earned his bachelor's degree in biochemical sciences in 1960.
PhD Studies
Alberts continued his studies with Paul M. Doty for his PhD at Harvard University. His projects were very ambitious. He tried to figure out the genetic code. He also tested his ideas about how DNA polymerase (a special protein) copies DNA.
He faced a challenge when he didn't pass his first oral exam in 1965. But he kept working hard and finished his PhD research later that year. He received his doctorate in biophysics in 1966. Alberts says that failing that exam taught him a lot more than his successes. It showed him how important it is to have a good plan for experiments in science.
Career in Science
After getting his PhD, Bruce Alberts went to Switzerland. He worked at the Institute of Molecular Biology in Geneva. There, he worked with Richard H. Epstein on genes that help DNA copy itself in tiny viruses called phage T4.
Epstein's team had found at least seven different proteins needed for T4 DNA to copy. Alberts decided to try something new. He created a special way to clean and separate proteins that stick to DNA. This helped him find the first "single-stranded DNA binding protein." These types of proteins are now known to be in all living cells.
Work at Princeton University
In 1966, Alberts became a professor at Princeton University. He continued to study proteins. Eventually, he was able to put together a DNA copying system in a test tube. This system used seven pure proteins.
Research at University of California, San Francisco
In 1976, Alberts moved to the University of California, San Francisco. He became a professor there. In the same year, he and his students successfully added all seven proteins to DNA in the right conditions. This allowed them to make DNA in the lab.
They spent many more years understanding how these seven proteins work together like a tiny "machine" to copy DNA. They also discovered that the two main parts of the DNA copying process (leading strand and lagging strand) work together.
Alberts was recognized for his important work. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1978. He also held a special research professorship from the American Cancer Society. From 1985 to 1990, he was the head of the biochemistry and biophysics department at UCSF.
Science and Education Leadership
Bruce Alberts spent 12 years as the full-time President of the United States National Academy of Sciences. He moved to Washington, D.C., for this role from 1993 to 2005.
He has always been very dedicated to making science education better. He spent a lot of his time on projects like City Science. This program helps improve how science is taught in elementary schools in San Francisco.
While he was president of the National Academy of Sciences, the Academies published many reports on education. These included the National Science Education Standards (1996) and Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards (2000). These reports aimed to change how science is taught in schools from kindergarten to 12th grade.
The American Society for Cell Biology gives out the Bruce Alberts Award for Excellence in Science Education in his name. This award honors people who have made great contributions to science education.
Alberts has also been involved with many other groups and journals. He was the president-elect of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. From 2007 to 2008, he was president of the American Society for Cell Biology.
He was also the editor-in-chief of Science magazine for five years, from 2008 to 2013. He also helped start the journal Cell Biology Education.
International Contributions
From 2000 to 2009, Alberts was a co-chair of the InterAcademy Council. This group advises on science issues and includes presidents from science academies around the world.
In 2009, US President Barack Obama announced a new Science Envoy program. In 2010, Bruce Alberts became one of the first US science envoys. He visited countries with many Muslim people to build better connections through science.
Awards and Honors
Bruce Alberts is a member of several important science groups, including the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences. In 2014, President Barack Obama gave him the National Medal of Science.
He has received many awards and honors for his work:
- 1975: NAS Award in Molecular Biology
- 1997: Outstanding Educator Award from The Exploratorium
- 2005: Commander of the Order of the British Empire (an honor from the UK)
- 2010: Vannevar Bush Award
- 2010: George Brown Award for International Scientific Cooperation
- 2014: National Medal of Science
- 2014: Centennial Medal from Harvard University
- 2016: Lasker-Koshland Special Achievement Award in Medical Science
- 2022: Sigma Xi Gold Key Award
