George P. Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Pieczenik Smith
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| Born | March 10, 1941 |
| Alma mater | Haverford College Harvard University |
| Known for | Phage displays |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Biochemistry |
| Institutions | University of Wisconsin University of Missouri-Columbia Duke University |
| Doctoral advisor | Edgar Haber |
George Pieczenik Smith (born March 10, 1941) is an American chemist. He is a retired professor of biological sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is famous for inventing a method called phage display. This method helps scientists find new proteins and is very useful in making new medicines.
In 2018, he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He shared this important award with two other scientists, Greg Winter and Frances Arnold.
Contents
What is Phage Display?
Phage display is a clever way to study proteins. Proteins are tiny building blocks that do many jobs in our bodies. George Smith found a way to make a special kind of virus show different proteins on its surface.
How Does it Work?
First, let's talk about a bacteriophage. This is a type of virus that only infects bacteria. It's like a tiny machine that can attach to bacteria and inject its genetic material.
George Smith discovered how to insert the genetic code for a specific protein into a bacteriophage. This makes the bacteriophage produce that protein on its outer shell, called the coat protein. So, the virus "displays" the protein.
Why is Phage Display Important?
Imagine you want to find a specific key that fits a certain lock. Phage display is like having millions of different keys (proteins) displayed on millions of viruses. You can then "test" them to see which one fits a particular "lock" (another molecule or cell).
This method has many uses in science and medicine:
- Finding new medicines: Scientists can use it to find proteins that can block diseases.
- Developing antibodies: Antibodies are special proteins our bodies make to fight off germs. Phage display helps create new antibodies for treating illnesses like cancer or autoimmune diseases.
- Studying how proteins interact: It helps us understand how different proteins work together.
Winning the Nobel Prize
George P. Smith's invention of phage display changed how scientists work with proteins. His work made it possible to create new drugs and treatments.
In 2018, he was honored with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. This award recognized his groundbreaking work on phage display. His discovery has led to many important advances in medicine and biotechnology.
