Gordon Woods
Encyclopedia
Gordon Woods was an American
veterinary scientist who co-created Idaho Gem
, the world's first cloned mule
.
. He obtained his bachelor's degree
from the University of Idaho
. Woods received a doctorate
of veterinary medicine
from Colorado State University
. He later obtained a second doctorate in reproductive biology
from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
.
at Cornell University
.
Woods founded the Northwest Equine Reproduction Laboratory in Idaho in 1986. He moved to Washington state
, where he taught at the University of Washington
until he joined the faculty of the University of Idaho
in 1988 as an Animal and Veterinary Science Department professor.
Woods, along with colleagues Dr. Dirk Vanderwall and Dr. Ken White of Utah State University
, led a team of scientists in 2003 that cloned Idaho Gem
, the world's first cloned mule
. The cloning of Idaho Gem was a part of a larger scientific study intended to understand human diseases. Horse
s, mule
s, and other equines have lower rates of cancer
than humans. Woods, Vanderwall, White and their team hoped that the cloning of mules and other equines would provide an important scientific insight into the different cancer rates between humans and equines. Woods was particularly interested in the role that calcium
played in the development of cancer. Horses and mules have less calcium in their cell wall
s than humans.
Woods' colleague, Dirk Vanderwall, later explained Woods' goals during the Idaho Gem cloning, "That certainly was another primary focus of Gordon's...to use the horse as a model to try to understand age-onset diseases in people. Gordon's hypothesis was that excessive intracellular
calcium in human cells could be an underlying factor in age-onset diseases."
Woods departed the University of Idaho in 2007 and joined the faculty of Colorado State University
. He became a professor in the school's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
Gordon Woods died unexpectedly at the Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Colorado
, on August 20, 2009, at the age of 57. He was survived by his wife, Shauna, whom he had been married to for 37 years, four children, six grandchildren and his mother.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
veterinary scientist who co-created Idaho Gem
Idaho Gem
The mule Idaho Gem was the first equine and first cloned mule.He resulted from the collaboration of Dr. Gordon Woods and Dr. Dirk Vanderwall of the Northwest Equine Reproduction Laboratory at the University of Idaho and Dr. Ken White of Utah State University...
, the world's first cloned mule
Mule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
.
Early life
Woods was born on July 14, 1952, and was raised in northern IdahoIdaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. He obtained his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
. Woods received a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
of veterinary medicine
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
from Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
. He later obtained a second doctorate in reproductive biology
Reproductive biology
Reproductive biology is a study mainly involving the reproductive system and sex organs. It is closely related to reproductive endocrinology and infertility. also is miotosis and miosis...
from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
.
Career
Woods first taught veterinary medicineVeterinary medicine
Veterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
.
Woods founded the Northwest Equine Reproduction Laboratory in Idaho in 1986. He moved to Washington state
Washington State
Washington State may refer to:* Washington , often referred to as "Washington state" to differentiate it from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States* Washington State University, a land-grant college in that state- See also :...
, where he taught at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
until he joined the faculty of the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
in 1988 as an Animal and Veterinary Science Department professor.
Woods, along with colleagues Dr. Dirk Vanderwall and Dr. Ken White of Utah State University
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
, led a team of scientists in 2003 that cloned Idaho Gem
Idaho Gem
The mule Idaho Gem was the first equine and first cloned mule.He resulted from the collaboration of Dr. Gordon Woods and Dr. Dirk Vanderwall of the Northwest Equine Reproduction Laboratory at the University of Idaho and Dr. Ken White of Utah State University...
, the world's first cloned mule
Mule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
. The cloning of Idaho Gem was a part of a larger scientific study intended to understand human diseases. Horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s, mule
Mule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
s, and other equines have lower rates of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
than humans. Woods, Vanderwall, White and their team hoped that the cloning of mules and other equines would provide an important scientific insight into the different cancer rates between humans and equines. Woods was particularly interested in the role that calcium
Calcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...
played in the development of cancer. Horses and mules have less calcium in their cell wall
Cell wall
The cell wall is the tough, usually flexible but sometimes fairly rigid layer that surrounds some types of cells. It is located outside the cell membrane and provides these cells with structural support and protection, and also acts as a filtering mechanism. A major function of the cell wall is to...
s than humans.
Woods' colleague, Dirk Vanderwall, later explained Woods' goals during the Idaho Gem cloning, "That certainly was another primary focus of Gordon's...to use the horse as a model to try to understand age-onset diseases in people. Gordon's hypothesis was that excessive intracellular
Intracellular
Not to be confused with intercellular, meaning "between cells".In cell biology, molecular biology and related fields, the word intracellular means "inside the cell".It is used in contrast to extracellular...
calcium in human cells could be an underlying factor in age-onset diseases."
Woods departed the University of Idaho in 2007 and joined the faculty of Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
. He became a professor in the school's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
Gordon Woods died unexpectedly at the Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Colorado
Loveland, Colorado
Loveland is a Home Rule Municipality that is the second most populous city in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Loveland is situated north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. Loveland is the 14th most populous city in Colorado. The United States Census Bureau that in 2010 the...
, on August 20, 2009, at the age of 57. He was survived by his wife, Shauna, whom he had been married to for 37 years, four children, six grandchildren and his mother.