Clayton Oscar Person
Encyclopedia
Clayton Oscar Person, CM
, FRSC
(May 16, 1922 – September 1, 1990) was recognized internationally as an authority on the genetics of host-parasite relations . He was born and raised in Aylesbury, Saskatchewan
, Canada
and died in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
. His writings have made a major contribution to the development of a rigorous theoretical basis for our understanding of how the genetic structure of parasitic populations interacts with that of their host populations. This was known as the gene-for-gene relationship
. His theoretical methods have been applied widely in the practical management of parasitic diseases in agriculture and forestry.
from 1941-1945, he returned to enroll at the University of Saskatchewan
where he was awarded Honours in Biology in 1950 and the MA in 1951. He studied for the Ph.D. at the University of Alberta
, then spent two post-doctoral years abroad - one at the University of Lund, Sweden and another at the John Innes Institute
in England .
. In 1966 he joined the Department of Botany of the University of British Columbia
. Dr. Person has served the Canadian scientific community in various capacities, including participation in the establishment of the Genetics Society of Canada and later as its president; as Chairman of the NSERC Committee for Plant Biology, and as a member of the Canadian National Committee for the International Union of Biological Science. His scholarly achievements have received wide recognition.
He has been an Invited participant in numerous international symposia. In 1971 he was a visiting professor at Punjab Agricultural University
. In 1975 he served as consultant to the FAO
(United Nations) on coffee diseases in Ethiopia
. He was an invited scholar at the Rockefeller Study and Conference Centre in Italy in 1982. Dr. Person is an acknowledged authority on the genetics of plant parasites. His major research contribution has been to clarify the genetic basis of microevolutionary change in host-parasite systems. His work constitutes a major contribution to modern theory of host-parasite interaction in plant populations. It has found important applications in plant breeding throughout the world.
in 1970, and was designated Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society in 1981. He was awarded the British Columbia Science Secretariat Medal in 1981, the Flavelle Medal by the Royal Society of Canada
and the Medal of the Genetics Society of Canada, both in 1982. He was made a Member of the Order of Canada
in 1986.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, FRSC
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
(May 16, 1922 – September 1, 1990) was recognized internationally as an authority on the genetics of host-parasite relations . He was born and raised in Aylesbury, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and died in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. His writings have made a major contribution to the development of a rigorous theoretical basis for our understanding of how the genetic structure of parasitic populations interacts with that of their host populations. This was known as the gene-for-gene relationship
Gene-for-gene relationship
The gene-for-gene relationship was discovered by Harold Henry Flor who was working with rust of flax . Flor was the first scientist to study the genetics of both the host and parasite and to integrate them into one genetic system...
. His theoretical methods have been applied widely in the practical management of parasitic diseases in agriculture and forestry.
Education
After service overseas in the Royal Canadian NavyRoyal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
from 1941-1945, he returned to enroll at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
where he was awarded Honours in Biology in 1950 and the MA in 1951. He studied for the Ph.D. at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
, then spent two post-doctoral years abroad - one at the University of Lund, Sweden and another at the John Innes Institute
John Innes Centre
The John Innes Centre located in Norwich, Norfolk, England is an independent centre for research and training in plant and microbial science...
in England .
Career
Dr. Person was employed for several years (1956-1961) as Research Officer with Agriculture Canada in its Dominion Rust Research Laboratory, Winnipeg. He was then appointed as the first Head of the Department of Genetics at the University of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
. In 1966 he joined the Department of Botany of the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. Dr. Person has served the Canadian scientific community in various capacities, including participation in the establishment of the Genetics Society of Canada and later as its president; as Chairman of the NSERC Committee for Plant Biology, and as a member of the Canadian National Committee for the International Union of Biological Science. His scholarly achievements have received wide recognition.
He has been an Invited participant in numerous international symposia. In 1971 he was a visiting professor at Punjab Agricultural University
Punjab Agricultural University
The Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana, Punjab is one of the State Agricultural Universities in India. It was established in 1962 and is the nation's oldest agricultural university in India, after Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar. It has an...
. In 1975 he served as consultant to the FAO
Fão
Fão is a town in Esposende Municipality in Portugal....
(United Nations) on coffee diseases in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. He was an invited scholar at the Rockefeller Study and Conference Centre in Italy in 1982. Dr. Person is an acknowledged authority on the genetics of plant parasites. His major research contribution has been to clarify the genetic basis of microevolutionary change in host-parasite systems. His work constitutes a major contribution to modern theory of host-parasite interaction in plant populations. It has found important applications in plant breeding throughout the world.
Awards and recognitions
He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of CanadaRoyal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
in 1970, and was designated Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society in 1981. He was awarded the British Columbia Science Secretariat Medal in 1981, the Flavelle Medal by the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
and the Medal of the Genetics Society of Canada, both in 1982. He was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1986.