David Baltimore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Baltimore
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Baltimore in 2021
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| 6th President of the California Institute of Technology | |
| In office 1997–2005 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Eugene Everhart |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Lou Chameau |
| 6th President of Rockefeller University | |
| In office 1990–1991 |
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| Preceded by | Joshua Lederberg |
| Succeeded by | Torsten Wiesel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 7, 1938 New York, New York, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Alice S. Huang
(m. 1968) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | |
| Known for |
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| Awards |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Cell biology, microbiology |
| Institutions | |
| Thesis | The diversion of macromolecular synthesis in L-cells towards ends dictated by mengovirus (1964) |
| Doctoral advisor | Richard Franklin |
| Doctoral students | Sara Cherry |
David Baltimore (born March 7, 1938) is an American biologist and university leader. He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1975. He is a professor of biology at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He was also the president of Caltech from 1997 to 2006. He helped start the Whitehead Institute and led it from 1982 to 1990.
When he was 37, David Baltimore won the Nobel Prize with Renato Dulbecco and Howard M. Temin. They were honored for finding out how tumor viruses interact with a cell's genetic material. His specific discovery was an enzyme called reverse transcriptase. He has made important contributions to understanding the immune system, viruses, cancer research, and biotechnology. He has also taught and guided many students who became successful scientists. Besides the Nobel Prize, he has received many other awards. These include the U.S. National Medal of Science in 1999 and the Lasker Award in 2021.
Contents
Early Life and Education
David Baltimore was born on March 7, 1938, in New York City. He grew up in Queens before his family moved to Great Neck, New York. He became interested in biology during a summer program in high school. There, he met Howard Martin Temin, who would later share the Nobel Prize with him.
He earned his bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College in 1960. He learned about molecular biology from George Streisinger. He then went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for his graduate studies in biology. He quickly completed his PhD work in just two years. He became very interested in animal viruses. He moved to Richard Franklin's lab at the Rockefeller Institute in New York City. There, he made key discoveries about how viruses copy themselves. He also found the first RNA replicase, an enzyme that copies RNA.
Career and Research
After getting his PhD, Baltimore did more research at MIT and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He continued studying how viruses copy themselves, especially the poliovirus.
Discoveries as an Independent Scientist
In 1965, David Baltimore joined the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla. He continued his work on how poliovirus RNA copies itself. He also started guiding other young scientists. He and his colleagues found out how viruses make their proteins. This discovery showed how important protein processing is in cells.
He also met his future wife, Alice Huang, at Salk in 1967. They worked together on important experiments about viruses. During this time, he made a key discovery. He found that polio makes its viral proteins as one large piece. This piece is then cut into smaller, working parts.
Breakthrough at MIT: Reverse Transcriptase
In 1968, he moved back to MIT as a professor. Alice S. Huang also joined MIT to continue her research. They got married in October 1968. At MIT, Huang, Baltimore, and a student found that a virus called VSV used a special enzyme to copy its RNA.
Baltimore expanded this work to study two other RNA viruses. He then made a huge discovery: reverse transcriptase (RT). This enzyme builds DNA using an RNA template. This meant that genetic information could flow from RNA to DNA, not just from DNA to RNA. This discovery changed a basic idea in biology. Reverse transcriptase is vital for viruses like HIV to reproduce.
He published his findings at the same time as Howard Martin Temin, who had similar ideas. This discovery made it easier to study and copy individual genes. It also gave hope for new cancer treatments. In 1972, at age 34, Baltimore became a full professor at MIT.
Guiding New Science: The Asilomar Conference
Baltimore also helped organize the Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA in 1975. This meeting brought scientists together to discuss the possible risks of new biotechnology. They created voluntary safety rules for working with recombinant DNA. This helped ensure that new scientific powers were used responsibly.
Nobel Prize Recognition
In 1975, at 37, he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Howard Martin Temin and Renato Dulbecco. They were recognized for their discoveries about how tumor viruses interact with a cell's genetic material. Baltimore's biggest contribution was finding reverse transcriptase.
After winning the Nobel Prize, Baltimore focused his research on the immune system and viruses. His lab made important discoveries, including finding the key protein NF-κB in 1986. This protein is very important for how the immune system works and how cells respond to signals.
Leading the Whitehead Institute
In 1982, David Baltimore helped create the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research (WIBR). This institute focuses on basic biomedical research. He convinced MIT to host the new institute. Under his leadership, the Whitehead Institute became a top research center. It made major contributions to bioscience, including work on the Human Genome Project.
His lab at Whitehead continued to make breakthroughs. They discovered the RAG-1 and RAG-2 proteins. These proteins are crucial for how the immune system creates specific defenses against many different molecules. This was a very important discovery in immunology.
Another key finding from his lab was by George Q. Daley. He showed that a specific protein called bcr-abl causes a type of leukemia. This work helped lead to the development of a new cancer drug called Imatinib (Gleevec). Gleevec targets this protein and has been very successful in treating certain cancers.
President of Rockefeller University
In 1990, Baltimore became the sixth president of Rockefeller University in New York City. He continued his research there and made important changes to how the university was run. He left this role in 1991 but continued his research at Rockefeller until 1994. He then returned to MIT.
Leading Caltech
On May 13, 1997, David Baltimore was named president of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He started his term in October 1997.
During his time at Caltech, President Bill Clinton awarded him the National Medal of Science in 1999. In 2003, a researcher in his lab, Matthew Porteus, was the first to show precise gene editing in human cells.
Baltimore stepped down as Caltech president in October 2005. He remains a professor of biology at Caltech. His lab at Caltech focused on understanding the immune system and developing ways to use gene therapy to fight cancer and HIV.
MicroRNA Research
From his arrival at Caltech until his lab closed in 2018, Baltimore's team studied microRNA. These tiny RNA molecules help control how much protein is made from genes. His team found a microRNA called miR-146a. They discovered that it protects stem cells during long-term inflammation. A lack of this microRNA might lead to blood cancers.
In 2019, David Baltimore announced that he would be closing his lab. He said, "I have been involved in research for 60 years, and I think it is time to leave the field to younger people."
Impact on Public Policy
Throughout his career, Baltimore has greatly influenced national science discussions. This includes debates about the AIDS epidemic and recombinant DNA research. His work organizing the Asilomar Conference was key to creating agreement in science and policy.
More recently, Baltimore has joined other scientists in calling for a worldwide pause on using a new gene-editing technique. This technique can change human DNA that can be passed down. Like the Asilomar conference, scientists want the public to be aware of the ethical issues and risks of new gene modification methods.
He was also an early supporter of government funding for AIDS research. In 1986, he co-wrote a report called Confronting AIDS. This report called for a large research program to fight HIV/AIDS.
Biotechnology and Legacy
David Baltimore holds nearly 100 biotechnology patents. He has been a leader in American biotechnology since the 1970s. He helped start several companies, including Calimmune and Immune Design. He also advises many companies and non-profit groups.
He has published over 700 scientific articles. In 2019, Caltech named a graduate fellowship program in biochemistry and molecular biophysics in his honor.
Awards and Honors
- 1971 Gustav Stern Award in Virology
- 1971 Eli Lilly Award in Immunology and Microbiology
- 1974 Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- 1974 NAS Award in Molecular Biology
- 1975 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- 1999 National Medal of Science
- 2000 Warren Alpert Foundation Prize
- 2021 Lasker-Koshland Special Achievement Award in Medical Science
Honorary Degrees
David Baltimore has received many honorary degrees from universities around the world, including:
- 1976 Swarthmore College
- 1990 University of Helsinki
- 1999 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- 2004 Yale University
- 2005 Harvard University
Personal Life
David Baltimore married Dr. Alice S. Huang in 1968. They have one daughter. He enjoys fly-fishing.
See also
In Spanish: David Baltimore para niños
- History of RNA biology
- List of Jewish Nobel laureates
- List of RNA biologists
- Baltimore classification
- 73079 Davidbaltimore
