Walter Bodmer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter Bodmer
FRS FRSE
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Walter Bodmer, 2023
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| Born |
Walter Fred Bodmer
10 January 1936 |
| Education | Manchester Grammar School |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge (BA, PhD) |
| Spouse(s) |
Julia Bodmer
(m. 1956; died 2001) |
| Awards |
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| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | |
| Thesis | The study of population genetics and gene effects, with special reference to Primula vulgaris and the house mouse (1959) |
| Academic advisors | Ronald Fisher |
| Doctoral students |
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Sir Walter Fred Bodmer, born on January 10, 1936, is a famous British scientist. He was born in Germany and became a leading expert in human genetics. This field studies how our bodies are built using tiny instructions called genes.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Walter Bodmer was born in Frankfurt, Germany. When he was young, his family moved to Manchester, England, in 1938. He went to Manchester Grammar School.
Later, he studied at the University of Cambridge. In 1959, he earned his PhD. His research was about how genes change in groups of living things, like mice and primroses. His teacher was the famous scientist Ronald Fisher.
Career and Discoveries
Starting His Research
In 1961, Walter Bodmer moved to Stanford University in the United States. He joined a lab that studied genetics. He continued his work on how genes are passed down through generations. In 1962, he became a professor at Stanford.
In 1970, he returned to England. He became the very first professor of genetics at the University of Oxford.
Making Science Easy to Understand
From 1981 to 1982, Bodmer was a Vice-President of the Royal Institution. This is a place where scientists share their discoveries.
In 1985, he led a group that wrote an important report called The Bodmer Report. This report helped start a big movement to make science easier for everyone to understand. It led to the creation of the Committee on the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS) in 1987.
The Human Genome Project
Walter Bodmer was one of the first people to suggest the idea of the Human Genome Project. This huge project aimed to map out all the genes in humans. It was a massive step forward in understanding our DNA.
He also led the Imperial Cancer Research Fund for many years, first as director of research and then as director general. This organization works to find cures for cancer.
Studying British Genes
In 2005, Bodmer started a big project at the University of Oxford. It was called the People of the British Isles project. The goal was to study the genetic makeup of people in the United Kingdom. This helped scientists understand how different groups of people settled in Britain over time.
Scientists collected DNA samples from many volunteers. They looked for clues in the DNA that showed where people's ancestors came from. This research helped show how Vikings from Denmark settled in some parts of Britain, while Norwegian Vikings settled in places like the Orkney Islands.
Current Research
Since 1996, Sir Walter Bodmer has been leading a lab at the University of Oxford. His team studies the genes and biology of colorectal cancer, which is a type of cancer that affects the bowel. Their work helps us learn more about how cancer develops.
Awards and Recognition
Sir Walter Bodmer has received many important awards for his work. Some of these include:
- 1974: He became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK.
- 1980: He received the William Allan Award.
- 1986: He was made a Knight Bachelor, which means he can be called "Sir."
- 1994: He won the Michael Faraday Prize for making science popular.
- 2013: He received the Royal Medal from the Royal Society.
In 1984, he gave the famous Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. These lectures are for young people and help explain science in an exciting way. His lectures were called The Message of the Genes.
Personal Life
Walter Bodmer's father was Jewish, so his family had to leave Germany in 1938 to escape danger. They found a new home in Manchester, England.
In 1956, Walter Bodmer married Julia Bodmer. She was also a well-known geneticist. They had two sons and a daughter. Lady Bodmer passed away in 2001.
