J. Michael Bishop facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
J. Michael Bishop
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Portrait of Bishop
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John Michael Bishop
February 22, 1936 York, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Education | Gettysburg College (Bachelors) Harvard University (MD) |
| Known for | Oncogene Virus |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Virology |
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John Michael Bishop (born February 22, 1936) is an American scientist. He is an immunologist (someone who studies the body's defenses) and a microbiologist (someone who studies tiny living things). In 1989, he won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Harold E. Varmus. He still works at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He was also the head of UCSF from 1998 to 2009.
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Early Life and Learning
John Michael Bishop was born in York, Pennsylvania. He went to Gettysburg College for his first degree. Later, he studied at Harvard University Medical School. He earned his medical degree (MD) in 1962.
A Career in Science
Bishop started his career at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. This is part of the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. He then worked for a year in Hamburg, Germany, at the Heinrich Pette Institute.
In 1968, Bishop joined the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He has been a professor there ever since. From 1998 to 2009, he was the chancellor, or head, of the university. He also leads his own research group, called the Bishop Lab.
Leading UCSF
As the eighth chancellor of UCSF, Bishop led the university through a big growth period. He helped expand the Mission Bay campus. He also worked to get more donations to support the university's work.
During his time as chancellor, he created a plan for diversity. This plan aimed to make UCSF a welcoming place for everyone. UCSF also adopted a new goal: advancing health worldwide™.
Discovering Cancer Genes
Much of Bishop's important research was done with Harold E. Varmus. Their most famous discovery was about a gene called c-src. This gene is found in normal cells. They found that it could turn into a cancer-causing gene (called an oncogene). This happened when it was affected by a virus called Rous Sarcoma Virus. This virus was first found in chickens in 1910.
Their discovery helped scientists find many other "proto-oncogenes." These are normal genes that can become cancer-causing genes. Changes to these genes can lead to human cancers. These changes can be caused by viruses, radiation, or certain chemicals.
Awards and Special Honors
Bishop is best known for his Nobel Prize-winning work on retroviral oncogenes. Working with Harold E. Varmus in the 1980s, he found the first human oncogene, called c-Src.
Their findings helped us understand how tumors (growths) form. They learned that tumors can start when normal genes in a cell change. These changes can be caused by viruses, radiation, or some chemicals.
Bishop is a member of several important science groups. These include the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2003, he received the National Medal of Science. That same year, he wrote a book called "How to win the Nobel Prize: An Unexpected Life in Science." In 2008, he became a Foreign Member of the Royal Society (ForMemRS).
See also
In Spanish: John Michael Bishop para niños
