Mitsuhiro Yanagida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mitsuhiro Yanagida
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| 柳田 充弘 | |
the photo published by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
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| Nationality | Japanese |
| Alma mater | University of Tokyo |
| Known for | Cell Cycle Chromosome segregation |
| Awards | Order of Culture (2011) Imperial Prize of the Japan Academy (2003) Asahi Prize (2000) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Molecular biology Cell biology |
| Institutions | Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Kyoto University |
Mitsuhiro Yanagida (born April 4, 1941, in Tokyo, Japan) is a famous Japanese scientist. He is a molecular biologist, which means he studies the tiny parts inside living cells. He is well-known for his research on how cells grow and divide. He also studies how chromosomes, which carry our genetic information, are organized.
Yanagida often uses a special type of yeast called Schizosaccharomyces pombe in his experiments. This yeast helps him understand important life processes. In 2000, he was chosen as a foreign member of the Royal Society in the UK. This is a very high honor for scientists.
Early Life and School
Mitsuhiro Yanagida was born in Tokyo, Japan. He went to the University of Tokyo and earned his science doctorate degree there in 1970.
His Work and Discoveries
Yanagida worked as a professor at Kyoto University from 1977 to 2004. He taught about Biophysics, which is the study of how physics applies to living things. He was also the head of the Graduate School of Biostudies for a few years.
After leaving Kyoto University, he became a professor at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology. There, he continues his important research on cells. His work helps us understand how cells manage their "life cycle" and how they make sure each new cell gets the right amount of genetic material.
Awards and Special Honors
Mitsuhiro Yanagida has received many important awards for his scientific work. Since 2010, he has been an Honorary Fellow of the Society of Biology. In 2012, he became a foreign associate of the National Academy of Sciences in the USA.
Some of his major awards include:
- The Order of Culture in 2011. This is one of Japan's highest honors.
- The Imperial Prize of the Japan Academy in 2003.
