Lester W. Sharp
Encyclopedia
Lester Whyland Sharp was an American
botanist, a pioneer in cytogenetics
.
He received B. S. from Alma College
in 1908. After two years at The Johns Hopkins University, he transferred to the University of Chicago
where he received his Ph. D. in 1912. His postdoctoral work was in association with the University of Louvain, Belgium
. Subsequently, he was with Cornell University
until his retirement as professor emeritus of botany
in 1947.
He authored two classical textbooks in cytology
: An Introduction to Cytology (1921) and Fundamentals of cytology (1943)
He was Vice-President of the American Society of Naturalists in 1924, Vice-President of the Botanical Society of America in 1929 and President in 1930. He served on the Editorial Boards of the American Journal of Botany
, Stain Technology and the Botanical Review. He was awarded an honorary D. Sc. by Alma College
in 1930 and by the University of Louvain in Belgium
in 1957.
In 1958 he received the Botanical Society of America
Merit Award. The nomination from the Cornell University said: "His contributions, both by personal investigations and by successive editions of carefully edited textbooks, have made plant cytology a significant field of Botany."
. Another one is a hoax presented together with graduate student, Cuthbert Fraser, about the most unusual bird from the Gobi Desert
, Eoörnis Pterovelox Gobiensis
, which has later been numerously reprinted in the form of a Ph.D. thesis, e.g., as .
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
botanist, a pioneer in cytogenetics
Cytogenetics
Cytogenetics is a branch of genetics that is concerned with the study of the structure and function of the cell, especially the chromosomes. It includes routine analysis of G-Banded chromosomes, other cytogenetic banding techniques, as well as molecular cytogenetics such as fluorescent in situ...
.
He received B. S. from Alma College
Alma College
Alma College is a private, liberal arts college located in Alma, Michigan. The enrollment is approximately 1,400 students, and the college is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college's 13th President, Dr...
in 1908. After two years at The Johns Hopkins University, he transferred to the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
where he received his Ph. D. in 1912. His postdoctoral work was in association with the University of Louvain, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Subsequently, he was with 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...
until his retirement as professor emeritus of botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
in 1947.
He authored two classical textbooks in cytology
Cell biology
Cell biology is a scientific discipline that studies cells – their physiological properties, their structure, the organelles they contain, interactions with their environment, their life cycle, division and death. This is done both on a microscopic and molecular level...
: An Introduction to Cytology (1921) and Fundamentals of cytology (1943)
He was Vice-President of the American Society of Naturalists in 1924, Vice-President of the Botanical Society of America in 1929 and President in 1930. He served on the Editorial Boards of the American Journal of Botany
American Journal of Botany
The American Journal of Botany is a peer-reviewed scientific journal which includes research papers on all aspects of plant biology. It is published by the Botanical Society of America on a monthly basis since 1914....
, Stain Technology and the Botanical Review. He was awarded an honorary D. Sc. by Alma College
Alma College
Alma College is a private, liberal arts college located in Alma, Michigan. The enrollment is approximately 1,400 students, and the college is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college's 13th President, Dr...
in 1930 and by the University of Louvain in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in 1957.
In 1958 he received the Botanical Society of America
Botanical Society of America
The Botanical Society of America represents professional and amateur botanists, researchers, educators and students in over 80 countries of the world...
Merit Award. The nomination from the Cornell University said: "His contributions, both by personal investigations and by successive editions of carefully edited textbooks, have made plant cytology a significant field of Botany."
Professional humor
The wit of professor Sharp was also expressed in humorous vein. The most notable examples are his retirement address as President of the Botanical Society entitled "A Nuclear Century", in which he lively reviews studies on the nucleusCell nucleus
In cell biology, the nucleus is a membrane-enclosed organelle found in eukaryotic cells. It contains most of the cell's genetic material, organized as multiple long linear DNA molecules in complex with a large variety of proteins, such as histones, to form chromosomes. The genes within these...
. Another one is a hoax presented together with graduate student, Cuthbert Fraser, about the most unusual bird from the Gobi Desert
Gobi Desert
The Gobi is a large desert region in Asia. It covers parts of northern and northwestern China, and of southern Mongolia. The desert basins of the Gobi are bounded by the Altai Mountains and the grasslands and steppes of Mongolia on the north, by the Hexi Corridor and Tibetan Plateau to the...
, Eoörnis Pterovelox Gobiensis
Eoörnis Pterovelox Gobiensis
Eoörnis pterovelox gobiensis is a fictional bird, a humorous hoax by Lester W. Sharp, professor of botany, Cornell University, United States....
, which has later been numerously reprinted in the form of a Ph.D. thesis, e.g., as .