Peter Goodfellow (geneticist) facts for kids

Peter Neville Goodfellow is a famous British scientist. He was born on August 4, 1951. He is best known for his amazing work on how biological sex is determined. He helped discover a very important gene called SRY. This gene plays a key role in whether a person develops as male. From 1992 to 1996, he was a professor of genetics at the University of Cambridge.

Early Life and Education

Peter Goodfellow started his science journey at the University of Bristol. In 1972, he earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Science, in Microbiology. After that, he continued his studies at the University of Oxford. He received his advanced degree, a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil), in 1975. His important research there was guided by a scientist named Walter Bodmer.

Discovering the SRY Gene

One of Peter Goodfellow's most important discoveries was his work on the SRY gene. This gene is found on the Y chromosome. It gives instructions for making a protein called testis determining factor. This protein is like a switch that tells a developing embryo to form testes. Testes are the male reproductive organs. This discovery helped scientists understand how biological sex is decided. It was a huge step forward in the field of genetics.

Important Awards and Recognition

Peter Goodfellow has received many important awards for his scientific work. In 1992, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom. He also received the Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine in 1995. He shared this award with another scientist, Robin Lovell-Badge. In 1998, he became a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. The University of Bristol also gave him an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 2002.

His Family Life

In 1972, Peter Goodfellow married Julia Mary Lansdall. Julia is also a well-known scientist. She used to be the CEO of the BBSRC, which supports science research. Peter and Julia have two children, a son and a daughter.