Grahame Hardie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grahame Hardie
FRS FRSE FMedSci
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|---|---|
| Born | 5 April 1950 |
| Known for | Discovery of AMP-activated protein kinase |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Biochemistry |
| Institutions | University of Dundee |
| Thesis | Cereal Carbohydrases (1974) |
David Grahame Hardie is a famous Scottish scientist. He was born in 1950. He is a biochemist, which means he studies the chemistry of living things. Professor Hardie works at the University of Dundee in Scotland.
Discovering How Cells Get Energy
Professor Grahame Hardie is most famous for finding something very important inside our bodies. He discovered a special protein called AMP-activated protein kinase, or AMPK for short. This discovery happened many years ago.
What is AMPK?
Think of AMPK as a "fuel gauge" for your body's cells. Every cell needs energy to work, just like a car needs fuel. AMPK helps cells know how much energy they have.
When a cell's energy levels get low, AMPK becomes active. It then tells the cell to do things that will make more energy or save the energy it has. This is super important for keeping our bodies healthy.
For example, AMPK can tell cells to burn sugar or fat for energy. It can also tell them to stop wasting energy. Understanding AMPK helps scientists learn more about diseases like diabetes and even some types of cancer.
