Hans Eiberg
Encyclopedia
Hans Eiberg, is a Danish
geneticist
, known for the discovery of the genetic
mutation
causing blue eyes.
Hans Eiberg graduated as M.Sc. in 1970. Since 1971 he has worked with genetics at the Institute for Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, Copenhagen University and in 1975 he became associate professor
at the institute.
Together with professor Jan Mohr
he established Copenhagen Family Bank in 1972, a store of DNA
samples, comprising about 1000 large Danish families.
Hans Eiberg has contributed to the mapping of the human genome
, and he has succeeded in finding important genetic markers for several serious illnesses such as cystic fibrosis
, Batten disease
and various diseases of the eye. He also showed that bedwetting
is a hereditary disease rather than a psychologic disturbance.
Hans Eiberg has written more than 250 articles published in international journals
.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
geneticist
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...
, known for the discovery of the genetic
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
mutation
Mutation
In molecular biology and genetics, mutations are changes in a genomic sequence: the DNA sequence of a cell's genome or the DNA or RNA sequence of a virus. They can be defined as sudden and spontaneous changes in the cell. Mutations are caused by radiation, viruses, transposons and mutagenic...
causing blue eyes.
Hans Eiberg graduated as M.Sc. in 1970. Since 1971 he has worked with genetics at the Institute for Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, Copenhagen University and in 1975 he became associate professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the institute.
Together with professor Jan Mohr
Jan Mohr
Jan Gunnar Faye Mohr, was a Norwegian-Danish physician and geneticist, known for his discovery of the first cases of autosomal genetic linkage in man, between the Lutheran blood groups and the ABH-secretor system, and between these and the hereditary disease myotonic dystrophy...
he established Copenhagen Family Bank in 1972, a store of DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
samples, comprising about 1000 large Danish families.
Hans Eiberg has contributed to the mapping of the human genome
Human genome
The human genome is the genome of Homo sapiens, which is stored on 23 chromosome pairs plus the small mitochondrial DNA. 22 of the 23 chromosomes are autosomal chromosome pairs, while the remaining pair is sex-determining...
, and he has succeeded in finding important genetic markers for several serious illnesses such as cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a recessive genetic disease affecting most critically the lungs, and also the pancreas, liver, and intestine...
, Batten disease
Batten disease
Batten disease is a rare, fatal autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder that begins in childhood...
and various diseases of the eye. He also showed that bedwetting
Bedwetting
Nocturnal enuresis, commonly called bedwetting, is involuntary urination while asleep after the age at which bladder control usually occurs. Nocturnal enuresis is considered primary when a child has not yet had a prolonged period of being dry...
is a hereditary disease rather than a psychologic disturbance.
Hans Eiberg has written more than 250 articles published in international journals
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
.