Werner Arber facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Werner Arber
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Arber in 2018
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| Born | 3 June 1929 Gränichen, Switzerland
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| Education | Old Cantonal School Aarau ETH Zurich |
| Known for | restriction endonucleases |
| Children | Silvia Arber |
| Awards | 1978 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Microbiology |
| Institutions | University of Geneva, University of Basel, University of Southern California |
Werner Arber (born 3 June 1929) is a famous Swiss microbiologist and geneticist. He was born in Gränichen, Aargau, Switzerland.
Arber is best known for a very important discovery. He shared the 1978 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with two American scientists, Hamilton Smith and Daniel Nathans. They won the prize for finding something called restriction endonucleases. This discovery was a huge step forward. It helped create a new technology called recombinant DNA. This technology lets scientists combine DNA from different sources.
Contents
Discovering DNA's Scissors
Werner Arber's big discovery was about special proteins. These proteins are like tiny scissors that can cut DNA. They are called restriction enzymes, or more formally, restriction endonucleases.
What are Restriction Enzymes?
Imagine DNA as a long, twisted ladder. Restriction enzymes are like tiny, smart scissors. They can find specific spots on this ladder and cut it there. Different enzymes cut at different specific sequences.
These enzymes are naturally found in bacteria. Bacteria use them to protect themselves from viruses. When a virus tries to inject its DNA into a bacterium, these enzymes cut the viral DNA into pieces. This stops the virus from taking over the bacterial cell.
How the Discovery Helped Science
Finding these "DNA scissors" changed biology forever. Scientists could now cut DNA at exact places. This made it possible to move genes from one organism to another. This process is called recombinant DNA technology.
This technology is used in many ways today. For example, it helps make medicines like insulin for people with diabetes. It also helps in creating new crops and understanding diseases.
Werner Arber's Journey
Werner Arber's path to this discovery started with a lot of hard work and curiosity.
Early Studies
From 1949 to 1953, Arber studied chemistry and physics. He went to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich. After finishing his studies, he started working at the University of Geneva. He used an electron microscope to study tiny things.
He soon became very interested in bacteriophages. These are viruses that infect bacteria. He studied how these viruses work and wrote his main research paper about them.
Becoming a Molecular Geneticist
In 1956, Arber learned about new experiments. These experiments showed how bacteriophages could transfer genes between bacteria. This made him realize how important genes and DNA were.
He decided to focus on genetics and how molecules work. He said this was the end of his time as an electron microscopist. He became a molecular geneticist. In 1958, he earned his doctorate degree from the University of Geneva.
Research in the United States
After getting his doctorate, Arber worked in the United States. He spent time at the University of Southern California. He also visited other famous labs. These included labs at the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
During this time, he made an important observation. He found that bacteria could protect their own DNA by adding small chemical tags to it. This stopped their own restriction enzymes from cutting their DNA. This process is called methylation.
Returning to Switzerland
In 1960, Arber returned to the University of Geneva. He set up his own lab there. Many talented students and scientists joined him. One of his colleagues, Daisy Roulland-Dussoix, did work that was very important for his later Nobel Prize.
In 1965, he became a professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Geneva. Later, in 1971, he moved to the University of Basel. He worked in a new building called the Biozentrum. This place was designed for scientists from different fields to work together.
Beyond the Lab
Werner Arber has done more than just scientific research. He has also played a role in guiding science and sharing knowledge.
Sharing Knowledge
Since 1981, Arber has often attended the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. At these meetings, Nobel Prize winners share their ideas with young scientists. He has shared his passion for science many times.
Important Roles
Arber is a member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. This is a group of scientists who advise the Pope on scientific matters. He became a member in 1981. In 2011, he was chosen to be the President of this Academy. He was the first Protestant to hold this important position. He retired from this role in 2017.
He also helped start the World Cultural Council in 1981. This organization promotes culture and science around the world. In 1984, he became a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Personal Life
Werner Arber is married and has two daughters. One of his daughters, Silvia Arber, is also a well-known scientist.
Arber is a Christian. He believes that science and faith can go together. He has said that the idea of a Creator helps him understand the world's beauty and complexity.
See also
In Spanish: Werner Arber para niños
