Jon Beckwith
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Roger Beckwith (born 1935) is a American microbiologist
and geneticist
. He is currently the American Cancer Society Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at Harvard Medical School
in Boston, Massachusetts.
Beckwith led the research group that in 1969 isolated the first gene
from a bacterial chromosome. The group of researchers worked under Beckwith at the Harvard Medical School and consisted of several now well-known scientists and doctors including James A. Shapiro
and Lawrence Eron
, MD. Following this discovery, he has made important contributions to the study of bacterial genetics. His studies include the mechanisms of protein secretion, disulfide bond formation, and cell division. In addition, he is a prominent speaker on the social implications of science and has been an activist in science. He spoke out against the testing of boys for XYY chromosomes and was a member of the ELSI (Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications) committee of the Human Genome Project
initiated by James D. Watson
. He has worked on issues of social responsibility in science and since 1983 has taught a course on the Social Issues in Biology at Harvard University, one of the first of its kind. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 1986.
He is an editor of The Double-Edged Helix (Johns Hopkins University Press) and the author of Making Genes, Making Waves (Harvard University Press). In 2005 he received the Abbott-ASM Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Microbiology for "sustained, remarkable contributions to the microbiological sciences". Beckwith was the 2009 recipient of the Selman A. Waksman Award in Microbiology
from the National Academy of Sciences
.
He trained with Sydney Brenner
, Arthur Pardee
and Francois Jacob
at the Institut Pasteur in France before arriving at Harvard University
.
Beckwith is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
Microbiologist
A microbiologist is a scientist who works in the field of microbiology. Microbiologists study organisms called microbes. Microbes can take the form of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protists...
and 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...
. He is currently the American Cancer Society Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
in Boston, Massachusetts.
Beckwith led the research group that in 1969 isolated the first gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
from a bacterial chromosome. The group of researchers worked under Beckwith at the Harvard Medical School and consisted of several now well-known scientists and doctors including James A. Shapiro
James A. Shapiro
James A. Shapiro is an American biologist, an expert in bacterial genetics and a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Chicago.-Academic biography:...
and Lawrence Eron
Lawrence Eron
Lawrence Eron, MD is an infectious disease specialist practicing in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 2009 he received the Clinician Award from the Infectious Diseases Society of America "for outstanding achievements in the clinical practice of infectious diseases."...
, MD. Following this discovery, he has made important contributions to the study of bacterial genetics. His studies include the mechanisms of protein secretion, disulfide bond formation, and cell division. In addition, he is a prominent speaker on the social implications of science and has been an activist in science. He spoke out against the testing of boys for XYY chromosomes and was a member of the ELSI (Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications) committee of the Human Genome Project
Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project is an international scientific research project with a primary goal of determining the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up DNA, and of identifying and mapping the approximately 20,000–25,000 genes of the human genome from both a physical and functional...
initiated by James D. Watson
James D. Watson
James Dewey Watson is an American molecular biologist, geneticist, and zoologist, best known as one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNA in 1953 with Francis Crick...
. He has worked on issues of social responsibility in science and since 1983 has taught a course on the Social Issues in Biology at Harvard University, one of the first of its kind. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
in 1986.
He is an editor of The Double-Edged Helix (Johns Hopkins University Press) and the author of Making Genes, Making Waves (Harvard University Press). In 2005 he received the Abbott-ASM Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Microbiology for "sustained, remarkable contributions to the microbiological sciences". Beckwith was the 2009 recipient of the Selman A. Waksman Award in Microbiology
Selman A. Waksman Award in Microbiology
The Selman A. Waksman Award in Microbiology is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences "in recognition of excellence in the field of microbiology." Named after Selman Waksman, it was first awarded in 1968....
from the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
.
He trained with Sydney Brenner
Sydney Brenner
Sydney Brenner, CH FRS is a South African biologist and a 2002 Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine laureate, shared with H...
, Arthur Pardee
Arthur Pardee
Arthur Pardee is an American biochemist. One biographical portrait begins "Among the titans of science, Arthur Pardee is especially intriguing." There is hardly a field of molecular biology that is not affected by his work, which has advanced our understanding through theoretical predictions...
and Francois Jacob
François Jacob
François Jacob is a French biologist who, together with Jacques Monod, originated the idea that control of enzyme levels in all cells occurs through feedback on transcription. He shared the 1965 Nobel Prize in Medicine with Jacques Monod and André Lwoff.-Childhood and education:François Jacob is...
at the Institut Pasteur in France before arriving at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Beckwith is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.