Roger Guillemin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roger Charles Louis Guillemin
|
|
|---|---|
Roger Charles Louis Guillemin
|
|
| Born | January 11, 1924 |
| Died | February 21, 2024 (aged 100) San Diego, California, U.S.
|
| Nationality | French |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | Université de Montréal Université de Bourgogne |
| Known for | Neurohormones |
| Awards | National Medal of Science, Nobel Prize (1977) Dickson Prize (1977) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Biology Neurology |
| Institutions | Baylor College of Medicine University of California, San Diego |
| Doctoral students | Wylie Vale |
Roger Charles Louis Guillemin (January 11, 1924 – February 21, 2024) was a famous French and American scientist. He studied the brain and nervous system, a field called neuroscience.
He won the National Medal of Science in 1976. In 1977, he received the Nobel Prize for Medicine. He shared this award with Andrew Schally and Rosalyn Sussman Yalow. They were honored for their important discoveries about neurohormones. These are special chemicals that the brain makes to control the body.
Contents
Who was Roger Guillemin?
Roger Guillemin was born in Dijon, France, on January 11, 1924. He was a very curious student from a young age. He loved learning about how the human body works.
His Education and Early Career
Guillemin first studied at the University of Burgundy in France. He earned his medical degree (M.D.) from the University of Lyon in 1949. After that, he moved to Montreal, Canada.
In Montreal, he worked with another famous scientist, Hans Selye. Guillemin earned his Ph.D. from the Université de Montréal in 1953. This was an important step in his scientific journey.
Moving to the United States
In 1953, Roger Guillemin moved to the United States. He joined the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He became a citizen of the United States in 1965.
In 1970, he helped start the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California. He worked there until he retired in 1989. The Salk Institute is a place where scientists do advanced research.
What did he discover?
Roger Guillemin is best known for his work on neurohormones. These are like messengers in your body. They are made in the brain but travel through the blood to control other organs.
Discovering TRH and GnRH
Guillemin and another scientist, Andrew Schally, worked separately on similar research. They both discovered the structures of two very important neurohormones:
- TRH (Thyrotropin-releasing hormone): This hormone tells the body to make thyroid hormones, which control your energy.
- GnRH (Gonadotropin-releasing hormone): This hormone controls other hormones that are important for growth and reproduction.
Their discoveries helped us understand how the brain controls many body functions. This field of study is called neuroendocrinology.
A Famous Scientific Study
The way Guillemin's team made their discoveries was so interesting that it became the subject of a book. The book is called Laboratory Life. It was written by Bruno Latour and Steve Woolgar. It shows how scientists work together to find new things.
His Later Life and Legacy
Roger Guillemin lived a long and impactful life. He turned 100 years old on January 11, 2024. He passed away a month later, on February 21, 2024, in San Diego, California.
Supporting Children's Rights
Guillemin was also known for his kindness and his support for human rights. He signed a petition with other Nobel Prize winners. They asked the United Nations to check on a Tibetan child. This child, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, had been under house arrest since 1995.
Awards and Honors
Roger Guillemin received many important awards for his scientific work. These awards show how much his discoveries helped science and medicine.
- National Academy of Sciences, 1974
- Canada Gairdner International Award, 1974
- Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research, 1975
- Dickson Prize in Medicine, 1976
- Passano Award in Medical Sciences, 1976
- National Medal of Science, 1976
- American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1977
- Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 1977
See also
In Spanish: Roger Guillemin para niños
