Patricia Jacobs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patricia Jacobs
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|---|---|
| Born |
Patricia Ann Jacobs
8 October 1934 |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | University of St Andrews |
| Known for | Klinefelter syndrome XXY syndrome Trisomy X Philadelphia Chromosome |
| Spouse(s) | Newton Morton |
| Awards | Mauro Baschirotto Award (1999) March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology (2011) William Allan Award (1981) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | |
| Thesis | Cytogenetic studies (1966) |
Patricia Ann Jacobs, born on October 8, 1934, is a famous Scottish scientist. She is a geneticist, which means she studies how our bodies and traits are passed down through families. She works as an Honorary Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Patricia Jacobs was born in 1934. She went to the University of St Andrews in Scotland. In 1956, she finished her studies with a top degree in zoology. Zoology is the scientific study of animals.
Discoveries in Genetics
Patricia Jacobs has made very important discoveries about human chromosomes. Chromosomes are tiny structures inside our cells that carry our DNA. DNA contains all the instructions that make us who we are.
Understanding Chromosome Conditions
In 1959, Jacobs and her colleague John Strong made a big discovery. They found that some males with a condition called Klinefelter syndrome have an extra X chromosome. Normally, males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY). But in Klinefelter syndrome, they have two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome (XXY). This was a major step in understanding how extra chromosomes can affect people's health.
Research on XYY Syndrome
Jacobs also did some of the first research on XYY syndrome. This is another condition where a male has an extra Y chromosome (XYY). She studied a group of men to learn more about it.
However, early studies on XYY syndrome had some problems. They sometimes led to wrong ideas about people with this condition. Scientists now know that having an extra Y chromosome does not mean someone will be aggressive or violent. Jacobs's later work helped to correct these misunderstandings.
Awards and Recognition
Patricia Jacobs has received many awards for her important work in genetics.
- In 1981, she received the William Allan Award from the American Society of Human Genetics. This is a very respected award in the field of human genetics.
- In 1993, she was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a huge honor for scientists in the United Kingdom.
- She received the Mauro Baschirotto Award in 1999 from the European Society of Human Genetics.
- In 1999, she was also given the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to genetics.
- In 2010, she became a member of the US National Academy of Sciences. This means she is recognized as one of the top scientists in the United States.
- In 2011, she received the March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology. This award celebrates scientists who make breakthroughs in understanding how living things develop.
- She was also the first person to receive the KS&A Patricia Jacobs Lifetime Achievement Award.
Personal Life
In 1972, Patricia Jacobs married Newton Morton. She has two step-daughters and three step-sons.
