Juan Ramón Lacadena facts for kids

Juan Ramón Lacadena Calero (born on November 14, 1934) is a Spanish scientist. He is known for his work as an agronomical engineer and a geneticist. An agronomical engineer studies how to grow plants and crops better. A geneticist studies genes, which are like the instruction manual for all living things.

Early Life and Education

Juan Ramón Lacadena Calero was born in a city called Zaragoza, Spain. When he grew up, he went to a special school in Madrid. There, he studied to become an agronomical engineer. This means he learned all about farming, soil, and how to help plants grow strong and healthy.

A Career in Genetics

After his studies, Juan Ramón Lacadena became very interested in Genetics. This science explores how traits are passed down from parents to children. It looks at tiny parts of our cells called genes.

He worked at the CSIC, which is a big science organization in Spain. Later, he became a professor of Genetics at the UCM. A professor teaches students at a university.

Leading Genetics Departments

In 1971, he became the head of the Genetics Department at the Universidad de La Laguna. This is a big responsibility, as he was in charge of teaching and research in genetics there. Later that same year, he also became the head of the Genetics Department back at the Complutense University of Madrid, where he worked until 2005.

Contributions to Science

Juan Ramón Lacadena has done a lot of important work in genetics. He has written many scientific papers and books.

Studying Chromosomes

He wrote over 100 papers about something called chromosomal behavior in cytogenetics.

• Chromosomes are tiny, thread-like structures inside our cells. They carry our genes.
• Cytogenetics is the study of these chromosomes and how they work.

Lacadena's research helped us understand how chromosomes behave, which is key to understanding how living things grow and develop.

Genetics and Bioethics

He also wrote more than 80 publications about genetics and bioethics.

• Bioethics is a field that thinks about the right and wrong ways to use new discoveries in biology and medicine. For example, if scientists can change genes, bioethics helps decide if and how that should be done safely and fairly.

Juan Ramón Lacadena was also a member of important groups, like the National Commission of Assisted Human Reproduction and the International Society of Bioethics. These groups help make rules and guidelines for new scientific methods, making sure they are used responsibly.

See also

In Spanish: Juan Ramón Lacadena para niños