Jacques Dubochet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jacques Dubochet
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Dubochet in 2017
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| Born | 8 June 1942 |
| Citizenship | Switzerland |
| Education | École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (BS) University of Geneva (MS) University of Geneva (PhD) University of Basel (PhD) |
| Known for | Cryo-electron microscopy |
| Awards | Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2017) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Structural biology Cryo-electron microscopy |
| Institutions | European Molecular Biology Laboratory (1978–1987) University of Lausanne (since 1987) |
| Thesis | Contribution to the use of dark-field electron microscopy in biology (1974) |
| Doctoral advisor | Eduard Kellenberger |
Jacques Dubochet (born 8 June 1942) is a retired Swiss scientist. He is a biophysicist, which means he studies living things using physics. He used to work at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Germany. Later, he became a professor at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.
In 2017, he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He shared this big award with Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson. They won for creating a special method called cryo-electron microscopy. This method helps scientists see tiny parts of living things in amazing detail. It's like taking super-clear photos of things too small to see with a regular microscope.
Contents
Discovering Cryo-Electron Microscopy
Jacques Dubochet started studying physics in 1962. He earned his engineering degree in 1967. After that, he learned about molecular biology. He then began to study how to use electron microscopes to look at DNA. In 1973, he finished his PhD in biophysics.
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From 1978 to 1987, Dubochet led a research group. This was at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Germany. Then, from 1987 to 2007, he was a professor at the University of Lausanne. He retired in 2007 but stayed on as an honorary professor.
During his career, Dubochet helped develop new ways to use cryo-electron microscopy. This includes methods like cryo-electron tomography. These tools let scientists see tiny biological structures. For example, they can see parts of protein complexes or viruses.
How Cryo-Electron Microscopy Works
Jacques Dubochet found a clever way to freeze water very quickly. This quick freezing is called vitrification. It turns water into a glassy, solid state without forming ice crystals. Ice crystals can damage the tiny samples scientists want to study.
This method allows scientists to look at biological samples. They can see them almost as they are in their natural state. This has become very important for life science research. It helps us understand how living things work at a tiny level.
A Special Parking Spot
When Jacques Dubochet won the Nobel Prize, his university asked him what he wanted. He didn't ask for anything fancy. Instead, he asked for a parking spot for his bicycle! He had cycled to his lab almost every day for 30 years. The university happily gave him his special bicycle parking space.
Dubochet Center for Imaging
In late 2021, a new research center was opened. It was named the Dubochet Center for Imaging (DCI). This center was started by several Swiss universities. Just a few weeks after it opened, the DCI helped scientists. They used its tools to learn more about the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus.
Personal Life and Interests
Jacques Dubochet is married and has two children. He has dyslexia, which means he sometimes has difficulty with reading.
He has also been involved in social issues. In the 1970s, he protested against a nuclear power plant. He is a member of a political party in Switzerland. He also supports the climate movement. He is part of a group called "Grandparents for Future." He believes it's very important to protect our societies and the planet.
See also
In Spanish: Jacques Dubochet para niños
