Barton Childs
Encyclopedia
Barton Childs was an American pediatrician and geneticist
. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from Williams College
in 1938. In 1942, he received his M.D. from Johns Hopkins University
. Following military service in World War II
, he returned to Johns Hopkins for a residency in pediatrics
. After a fellowship at Children’s Hospital
in Boston, he returned to Johns Hopkins University in 1949, where he remained until his retirement in 1981. He remained a professor emeritus in the Department of Pediatrics at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine until his death.
Childs studied the genetics of adrenal hyperplasia, Crigler-Najjar syndrome
, and propionic acidemia
. He is known for his collaboration with William H. Zinkham, which demonstrated that Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
is an X-linked recessive
genetic disease. He is best known for a collaboration with Ronald Davidson and Harold Nitowsky, which demonstrated random inactivation
of one of the two X-chromosomes in mammalian female cells, a mechanism of dosage compensation
.
Childs was the author of many editorial pieces on genetic counseling
, genetic screening
, and behavioral genetics. He was a coauthor of The Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease, published in four volumes. In his book Genetic Medicine: A Logic of Disease, published in 1999, he argues that in the future, all medicine, or medical theory, must be based on the individuality of gene-environment interaction.
Geneticist
A geneticist is a biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a researcher or lecturer. Some geneticists perform experiments and analyze data to interpret the inheritance of skills. A geneticist is also a Consultant or...
. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in 1938. In 1942, he received his M.D. from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. Following military service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he returned to Johns Hopkins for a residency in pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
. After a fellowship at Children’s Hospital
Children's Hospital Boston
Children's Hospital Boston is a 396-licensed bed children's hospital in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area of Boston, Massachusetts.At 300 Longwood Avenue, Children's is adjacent both to its teaching affiliate, Harvard Medical School, and to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute...
in Boston, he returned to Johns Hopkins University in 1949, where he remained until his retirement in 1981. He remained a professor emeritus in the Department of Pediatrics at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine until his death.
Childs studied the genetics of adrenal hyperplasia, Crigler-Najjar syndrome
Crigler-Najjar syndrome
Crigler-Najjar Syndrome or CNS is a rare disorder affecting the metabolism of bilirubin, a chemical formed from the breakdown of blood. The disorder results in an inherited form of non-hemolytic jaundice, which results in high levels of unconjugated bilirubin and often leads to brain damage in...
, and propionic acidemia
Propionic acidemia
Propionic acidemia, also known as propionic aciduria, propionyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency and ketotic glycinemia, is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder, classified as a branched-chain organic acidemia....
. He is known for his collaboration with William H. Zinkham, which demonstrated that Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency is an X-linked recessive hereditary disease characterised by abnormally low levels of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase , a metabolic enzyme involved in the pentose phosphate pathway, especially important in red blood cell metabolism. G6PD deficiency is...
is an X-linked recessive
X-linked recessive
X-linked recessive inheritance is a mode of inheritance in which a mutation in a gene on the X chromosome causes the phenotype to be expressed in males and in females who are homozygous for the gene mutation X-linked recessive inheritance is a mode of inheritance in which a mutation in a gene on...
genetic disease. He is best known for a collaboration with Ronald Davidson and Harold Nitowsky, which demonstrated random inactivation
X-inactivation
X-inactivation is a process by which one of the two copies of the X chromosome present in female mammals is inactivated. The inactive X chromosome is silenced by packaging into transcriptionally inactive heterochromatin...
of one of the two X-chromosomes in mammalian female cells, a mechanism of dosage compensation
Dosage compensation
Dosage compensation, also known as Ohno's Hypothesis, is a hypothetical genetic regulatory mechanism which operates to equalize the phenotypic expression of characteristics determined by genes on the X chromosome so that they are equally expressed in the human XY male and the XX female. In 2006,...
.
Childs was the author of many editorial pieces on genetic counseling
Genetic counseling
Genetic counseling or traveling is the process by which patients or relatives, at risk of an inherited disorder, are advised of the consequences and nature of the disorder, the probability of developing or transmitting it, and the options open to them in management and family planning...
, genetic screening
Genetic testing
Genetic testing is among the newest and most sophisticated of techniques used to test for genetic disorders which involves direct examination of the DNA molecule itself. Other genetic tests include biochemical tests for such gene products as enzymes and other proteins and for microscopic...
, and behavioral genetics. He was a coauthor of The Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease, published in four volumes. In his book Genetic Medicine: A Logic of Disease, published in 1999, he argues that in the future, all medicine, or medical theory, must be based on the individuality of gene-environment interaction.
Awards and honors
- 1959 E. Mead Johnson AwardE. Mead Johnson AwardThe E. Mead Johnson Award, given by the Society for Pediatric Research, an affiliate of the American Pediatric Society, was established in 1939 to honor clinical and laboratory research achievements in pediatrics. Awards are funded by Mead Johnson Nutritionals, a subsidiary of Bristol-Myers Squibb....
from the Society for Pediatric Research - 1973 William Allan AwardWilliam Allan AwardThe William Allan Award, given by the American Society of Human Genetics, was established in 1961 in memory of William Allan , one of the first American physicians to conduct extensive research in human genetics...
from the American Society of Human GeneticsAmerican Society of Human GeneticsThe American Society of Human Genetics , founded in 1948, is the primary professional membership organization for specialists in human genetics worldwide. As of 2009, the organization had approximately 8,000 members... - 1989 John Howland AwardJohn Howland AwardThe John Howland Award, considered the highest award of the American Pediatric Society, has been given since 1952 to honor those who, by their contribution to pediatrics, have aided in its advancement. A statement of purpose from the society’s constitution forms the basis for selection:-Award...
from the American Pediatric SocietyAmerican Pediatric SocietyThe American Pediatric Society / Society for Pediatric Research are joint professional and advocacy organizations for pediatricians in the United States and Canada.... - 1998 Joseph Zubin AwardJoseph Zubin AwardThe Joseph Zubin Award may refer to three different psychology awards named in honor of the psychologist Joseph Zubin.The Joseph Zubin Memorial Fund Award is granted by the Joseph Zubin Memorial Fund at the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene at the New York State Psychiatric Institute...
from the American Psychopathological AssociationAmerican Psychopathological AssociationThe American Psychopathological Association is an organization, "devoted to the scientific investigation of disordered human behavior, and its biological and psychosocial substrates."The association was founded in 1910...
.