Matthew Meselson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matthew Meselson
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Matthew Stanley Meselson
May 24, 1930 Denver, Colorado, U.S.
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| Education | University of Chicago (Ph.B., 1951) California Institute of Technology (Ph.D., 1957) |
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| Awards | Guggenheim Fellowship, MacArthur Fellows Program Genius Award, Genetics Society of America - Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal for lifetime contributions, Lasker Award for Special Achievement in Medical Science |
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| Thesis | I. Equilibrium sedimentation of macromolecules in density gradients with application to the study of deoxyribonucleic acid. II. The crystal structure of N,N-dimethyl malonamide (1957) |
| Doctoral advisor | Linus Pauling |
| Notable students | Mark Ptashne, Susan Lindquist, Richard I. Morimoto, Sidney Altman, Nancy Kleckner, Steven Henikoff |
Matthew Stanley Meselson (born May 24, 1930) is an American scientist who has made major discoveries in genetics and molecular biology. He is a professor at Harvard University.
Meselson is most famous for an experiment he did with fellow scientist Franklin Stahl. This experiment proved how DNA copies itself. They showed that when a DNA molecule replicates, each new molecule is made of one old strand and one new strand. This is called semi-conservative replication.
He also helped discover messenger RNA (mRNA). Messenger RNA acts like a recipe card. It carries instructions from the DNA in a cell's nucleus to other parts of the cell that build proteins. With another scientist, Werner Arber, Meselson also discovered restriction enzymes. These are like tiny molecular scissors that can cut DNA at specific spots. This discovery was a huge step for genetic engineering.
Besides his work in the lab, Meselson has worked to control and ban chemical and biological weapons. He helped advise the U.S. government, which led to the Biological Weapons Convention in 1972. This is an international agreement to not create or keep biological weapons.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Matthew Meselson was born in Denver, Colorado, in 1930. He grew up in Los Angeles, California, where he loved chemistry and physics from a young age. He was so interested in science that he did many of his own experiments at home.
He was a fast learner and finished his high school credits early. At just 16 years old, he started studying at the University of Chicago. He later went to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for his Ph.D. There, he studied with the famous chemist Linus Pauling, who had won two Nobel Prizes.
Major Scientific Discoveries
How Does DNA Copy Itself?
In 1958, Meselson and Franklin Stahl performed what is now known as the Meselson–Stahl experiment. At the time, scientists knew DNA carried life's instructions, but they weren't sure how it was copied when cells divided. There were three main ideas about how it might work.
To find the answer, Meselson and Stahl used a clever method.
- They grew bacteria in a special liquid containing a "heavy" type of nitrogen atom. This made the bacteria's DNA heavy.
- Then, they moved the bacteria to a normal liquid with "light" nitrogen.
- As the bacteria divided, they checked the weight of the new DNA.
After one generation, all the new DNA was exactly halfway between heavy and light. This showed that each new DNA molecule was a mix of one old (heavy) strand and one new (light) strand. Their experiment proved that DNA copies itself "semi-conservatively," which was a key confirmation of the Watson and Crick model of DNA.
Finding the Messenger
In 1961, Meselson worked with François Jacob and Sydney Brenner to solve another puzzle. They wanted to know how the instructions in DNA get to the cell's protein-making factories. They discovered a special molecule that carries this message.
They named it messenger RNA (mRNA). This discovery explained a crucial step in how our genes work. The mRNA carries a copy of a gene's code from the DNA to the parts of the cell that build proteins based on that code.
Discovering DNA's Scissors
Later, Meselson's lab studied how cells protect themselves from foreign DNA, like from viruses. This research led to the discovery of restriction enzymes.
These enzymes act like guards for the cell. They recognize and cut up any DNA that doesn't belong. Scientists soon realized they could use these "molecular scissors" to cut and paste DNA in the lab. This became a basic tool for biotechnology and genetic engineering.
Working for a Safer World
Starting in 1963, Meselson became very interested in arms control. He was concerned about the dangers of chemical and biological weapons. These are weapons that use toxic chemicals or living germs to harm people.
He advised the U.S. government on this topic. He helped convince President Richard Nixon that the United States should stop making biological weapons. Meselson argued that these weapons were not useful for the military and were a threat to the world.
His work was very important in creating the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972. This was a major international treaty where countries agreed not to develop, produce, or own biological weapons. He also helped support the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993.
Investigating Disease Outbreaks
Meselson also used his scientific skills to investigate mysterious events.
- Yellow rain: In the 1980s, there were reports that a chemical weapon called "yellow rain" was being used in Laos. Meselson investigated and found that the yellow spots were actually the droppings of giant honeybees, not a weapon.
- Sverdlovsk Anthrax Leak: In 1979, there was a deadly anthrax outbreak in the Soviet city of Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg). The Soviet government said it was from bad meat. After the Soviet Union ended, Meselson led a team to investigate. They proved the outbreak was caused by an accidental leak of anthrax from a secret military lab.
Awards and Legacy
Matthew Meselson has received many awards for his amazing work in both science and public service. These include the Lasker Award, one of the highest honors in medical science, and the Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal for his lifetime contributions to genetics.
His work has changed our understanding of life at the molecular level. The tools and concepts he helped discover are used by scientists every day. Many of his students have also become famous biologists, including a Nobel Prize winner, Sidney Altman.
Personal Life
Meselson has been married three times. He has two daughters, Amy and Zoe, from his second marriage. He also has two stepsons from his third marriage to Jeanne Guillemin.
See also
In Spanish: Matthew Meselson para niños
