Torbjörn Caspersson facts for kids

Torbjörn Caspersson was a brilliant Swedish scientist. He was born in Motala on October 15, 1910, and passed away on December 7, 1997. He studied medicine and biophysics at the University of Stockholm. He became famous for his important work in cell biology and genetics.

Amazing Discoveries in Cell Biology

Caspersson made many key discoveries that helped us understand cells better. His work changed how scientists studied DNA and proteins.

Unlocking DNA Secrets

• In 1934, Torbjörn Caspersson worked with Einar Hammarsten. They proved that DNA is a very long chain of smaller units. Before this, scientists thought DNA molecules were much shorter.
• He also helped another scientist, William Astbury, by preparing good DNA samples. This helped Astbury make important measurements of DNA's structure.

Seeing Inside Cells

• In 1936, for his chemistry degree, Caspersson used a special ultraviolet microscope. This was the first time someone studied genetic material inside a cell this way. He looked at parts of the cell like the nucleus and nucleolus. He used a special stain called the Feulgen reaction to see the DNA.
• From 1937 to 1939, he worked with Jack Schultz. They studied how cells make proteins. In 1939, they published their findings. Caspersson found that cells making proteins have a lot of RNA. This showed that RNA is needed to make proteins. Another scientist, Jean Brachet, found the same thing using a different method. Caspersson wrote about this in his book, Cell Growth and Cell Function, in 1950.

Studying Chromosomes

• Caspersson was the first to study the very large chromosomes found in insect larvae. These giant chromosomes helped him learn more about how genes work.
• He also looked at the role of the nucleolus in making proteins. The nucleolus is a small part inside the cell's nucleus.
• He studied how a part of chromosomes called heterochromatin relates to how fast cancer cells grow. Heterochromatin is a part of chromosomes with few genes.

Identifying Chromosome Bands

• In 1969, while working at the Karolinska Institute, Caspersson and Lore Zech made a huge discovery. They found that a special stain, called quinacrine mustard, made chromosomes show light and dark stripes. These stripes are called "bands."
• This banding method was very important. It allowed scientists to accurately identify all 22 autosomes (non-sex chromosomes) and the X and Y sex chromosomes. This technique helped find small problems in chromosome structure. It also helped identify extra chromosomes, like those seen in conditions such as Down's syndrome. This was a big step forward in cytogenetics, which is the study of chromosomes.

Later Life and Awards

In 1977, Torbjörn Caspersson retired from his role as the head of the medical cell research and genetics department at the Karolinska Institute.

In 1979, he received the prestigious Balzan Prize for Biology. He was honored for his important studies on how cells make proteins and on nucleic acids (like DNA and RNA). The prize committee said his work on identifying specific bands on chromosomes created a new tool for studying how living things change over time. He was also a member of important groups like the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society.