Mario Capecchi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mario Capecchi
|
|
|---|---|
Capecchi at a conference in 2013
|
|
| Born |
Mario Ramberg Capecchi
October 6, 1937 Verona, Italy
|
| Nationality | Italian, American |
| Education | Antioch College Harvard University |
| Known for | Hox genes in knockout mice |
| Awards | Kyoto Prize (1996) Franklin Medal (1997) Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research (2001) Massry Prize (2002) Wolf Prize in Medicine (2002) Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2007) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Genetics |
| Institutions | Harvard Medical School University of Utah |
| Thesis | On the Mechanism of Suppression and Polypeptide Chain Initiation (1967) |
| Doctoral advisor | James D. Watson |
Mario Ramberg Capecchi (born 6 October 1937) is a famous scientist who studies genetics. He was born in Italy and later became an American citizen. In 2007, he won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He shared this important award with two other scientists, Martin Evans and Oliver Smithies.
Capecchi won the Nobel Prize for discovering a special way to create mice. These mice are called "knockout mice." In these mice, a specific gene is turned off. This helps scientists understand what different genes do. Today, he is a distinguished professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He teaches about human genetics and biology.
Contents
Mario Capecchi's Early Life
Mario Capecchi was born in Verona, Italy. His mother, Lucy Ramberg, was an artist. His father was Luciano Capecchi. Mario's early life was very difficult because of World War II.
In 1941, when Mario was young, his mother was arrested. She was part of a group that was against the government. Before her arrest, she arranged for a family to care for Mario. But soon, Mario ended up living on the streets of Bolzano. He was only about four years old.
Surviving During Wartime
Mario lived on the streets for a long time. He sometimes stayed with his father for short periods. He often faced hunger and almost died from not having enough food. Towards the end of the war, he was placed in an orphanage.
After the war ended, his mother searched for him for a year. She finally found him on his ninth birthday. He was in a hospital, very sick. His mother took him to Rome. There, he had his first bath in years. With money from his uncle, they moved to the United States.
Moving to America and Education
Mario and his mother settled in Pennsylvania. They lived in a special community co-founded by his uncle. He attended George School, a Quaker boarding school. He graduated from there in 1956.
Mario then went to Antioch College in Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and physics in 1961. He initially planned to study physics at MIT. However, he became very interested in molecular biology. He liked that molecular biology allowed him to work with fewer scientists and smaller machines.
Studying with a DNA Pioneer
This new interest led him to Harvard University. He joined the lab of James D. Watson. Watson was famous for helping discover the structure of DNA. Mario earned his PhD in biophysics from Harvard in 1967. His important research was guided by James D. Watson.
After his studies, Mario worked at Harvard Medical School. In 1973, he moved to the University of Utah. He has also been a researcher for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute since 1988. He is a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences.
Family Reunion
Years later, after Mario won the Nobel Prize, a woman named Marlene Bonelli claimed to be his half-sister. In 2008, Mario met her in Italy. They confirmed that they were indeed siblings.
Discovering Knockout Mice
Mario Capecchi is most famous for creating "knockout mice." These are special mice that scientists use to study genes.
What are Knockout Mice?
A knockout mouse is a mouse that has been genetically engineered. This means scientists have changed its genes. They specifically "turn off" or remove a particular gene. By doing this, scientists can see what happens when that gene is missing. This helps them understand what the gene's normal job is in the body.
Capecchi shared the 2007 Nobel Prize for this groundbreaking work. Martin Evans and Oliver Smithies also contributed to this important discovery.
Understanding Hox Genes
Capecchi also studied a group of genes called Hox genes. These genes are very important. They control how an embryo develops. In all multicellular animals, Hox genes make sure that body parts grow in the correct order. They help determine where the head, body, and tail should form.
Awards and Recognition
Mario Capecchi has received many important awards for his scientific work. These awards recognize his major contributions to genetics and medicine.
Some of his most notable awards include:
- 1996 – Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences
- 1997 – Franklin Medal for Advancing Our Knowledge of the Physical Sciences
- 2001 – Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research
- 2002 – Massry Prize
- 2002–2003 – Wolf Prize in Medicine
- 2007 – Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- 2011 – Cátedra Santiago Grisolía Prize, Valencia Spain
- 2012 – UCSF medal
- 2015 – American Association for Cancer Research Lifetime Achievement Award
See also
In Spanish: Mario Capecchi para niños
