Jane S. Richardson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jane S. Richardson
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Richardson in 2002
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| Born | January 25, 1941 Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Education | Swarthmore College, Harvard University |
| Known for | Ribbon diagram, structure validation |
| Spouse(s) | David C. Richardson |
| Awards | MacArthur Fellowship (1985), Alexander Hollaender Award in Biophysics (2019) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Structural biology, Biophysics |
| Institutions | Duke University |
Jane Shelby Richardson (born January 25, 1941) is an American scientist who studies living things using physics. She is famous for creating the ribbon diagram. This special drawing method helps us see the 3D (three-dimensional) shapes of proteins. Ribbon diagrams are now the main way scientists show protein structures. This has helped people all over the world learn more about how proteins work. Jane Richardson loved many subjects like astronomy, math, and philosophy. She is now a professor at Duke University where she teaches about the chemistry of living things.
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About Jane Richardson's Life
Jane Richardson was born on January 25, 1941, in Teaneck, New Jersey. Her dad was an electrical engineer, and her mom was an English teacher. Her parents really encouraged her interest in science. She joined local astronomy clubs when she was still in elementary school.
Early Discoveries and Education
When Jane was in high school, she won third place in a big science competition. This was the Westinghouse Science Talent Search in 1958. She figured out the orbit of the satellite Sputnik just by watching it herself!
She went to Swarthmore College planning to study math, astronomy, and physics. But she ended up getting a degree in philosophy with a minor in physics in 1962. Later, she went to Harvard University for graduate school in philosophy. While there, she also took classes about plants and evolution. These classes helped her think about protein structures in a broader way. She earned her master's degree from Harvard in 1966.
Starting a Science Career
After college, Jane tried teaching high school. But she soon realized it wasn't for her. She then joined the science world again. She worked as a technician at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This was in the same lab as her husband, David Richardson. She had met David at Swarthmore College.
At MIT, Jane learned many important skills in biochemistry and biophysics. She worked closely with her husband, and they still work together today. Jane Richardson then started drawing her famous diagrams. These drawings helped her understand the shapes of protein molecules.
Awards and Recognition
Throughout her career, Jane Richardson has received many important awards. In 1985, she won a MacArthur Fellowship. This award is also called the "Genius Grant." It is given to people who show amazing creativity and dedication in their work.
In 1991, she was chosen to be part of the United States National Academy of Sciences. In 2006, she joined the Institute of Medicine. As part of the National Academy of Sciences, she helps advise the White House on important science topics. From 2012 to 2013, she was the president of the Biophysical Society. She also became a fellow of the American Crystallographic Association in 2012.
Today, Jane Richardson is a professor at Duke University. She and her husband still lead a research group there. She also helps out on Wikipedia by adding science-related images.
Jane Richardson's Scientific Work
Jane Richardson's first science project was in astronomy. She watched the satellite Sputnik on two nights. From her observations, she calculated where it would go. This work won her third place in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search in 1958.
Understanding Protein Shapes
Jane joined her husband, David, to study the 3D shape of a protein called staphylococcal nuclease. They used a method called X-ray crystallography. This protein was one of the first dozen protein structures ever solved. Jane's classes in botany and evolution helped her think about how proteins are built. She realized that proteins have repeating patterns, like building blocks.
In 1970, Jane and David Richardson moved to Duke University. There, they figured out the first crystal structure of another protein called superoxide dismutase. In 1977, Jane published her ideas about how proteins are related in the famous journal Nature.
Creating the Ribbon Diagram
As Jane studied proteins, she created the ribbon diagram to show her findings. Her famous drawings first appeared in a science article in 1981. These diagrams quickly became the main way to visualize protein structures. They show how different parts of a protein, called amino acid sequences, connect.
Proteins fold in four main ways. Ribbon diagrams are especially good at showing the third level of folding. This level shows how different parts of the protein connect in 3D. Jane also created rules about how these parts link together. Her drawings and discoveries help us understand how proteins get their energy and how they have changed over time. Peter Agre, a Nobel Prize winner, said that the Richardsons' work helped scientists see what proteins look like. This made it easier to understand what they do.
New Research Areas
More recently, the Richardsons have explored new areas. In the 1980s, they started designing proteins from scratch. This is like reverse engineering to predict how proteins fold. In the 1990s, they created the kinemage system for showing molecular graphics. David Richardson wrote a program called Mage to display these on computers.
They also developed a way to measure how well atoms fit together inside proteins. This is called all-atom contact analysis. Their Kinemage website lets people explore 3D protein structures using their computer programs. This website is often used to teach students about proteins.
Current Work
The Richardson Laboratory now studies patterns in RNA as well as proteins. They are part of a group that helps share research about RNA structure and function. The lab also helps develop software for studying proteins and RNA. They host a website called MolProbity. This website helps scientists check if their protein and RNA structures are correct. Jane Richardson also works on groups that check the quality of protein and RNA data worldwide.
Awards and Honors
- 1958: Third place in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search (now called the International Science and Engineering Fair).
- 1985: MacArthur Fellowship, also known as the "Genius Grant."
- 1991: Elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences. This honor recognizes excellent research.
- 2006: Elected to the National Academy of Medicine. This group gives advice on science and health.
- 2012: Became a fellow of the American Crystallographic Association. This recognizes important work in crystallography.
- 2012 - 2013: President of the Biophysical Society.
- 2019: Alexander Hollaender Award in Biophysics. This award honors important contributions to biophysics.
See also
In Spanish: Jane Richardson para niños
