Malcolm Ferguson-Smith
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Andrew Ferguson-Smith, FRS FRSE (born 5 Sep 1931) is a British geneticist
.
He was born in Glasgow
in 1931, the son of physician John Ferguson-Smith and graduated from Glasgow University in 1955 with a degree in Medicine
. In 1955-1956 he was House Physician and House Surgeon at the Western Infirmary
in Glasgow and in 1956-1958 Senior House Officer and Registrar in Pathology
. In 1959 he accepted a post as Fellow in Medicine at the School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
, Baltimore
where he worked on chromosome analysis for nearly three years, establishing the first human chromosome diagnostic laboratory in the USA.
In 1961 he returned to the Department of Genetics
at Glasgow University and was appointed successively Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Reader, becoming the first Burton Professor of Medical Genetics in 1973. Apart from teaching genetics to medical student
s his duties involved the establishment of a Regional Genetics Service for the West of Scotland
. This provided opportunities for contributing to the human gene map using familial chromosome polymorphisms
, deletion mapping, in situ hybridization
and chromosome sorting by flow cytometry
. His work on mapping the Y-linked sex determinant in XX males led to the isolation of the mammalian sex-determining gene twenty-five years later.
In 1987 he was appointed Professor and Head of the Department of Pathology at Cambridge University and Director of the East Anglia Regional Genetics Service, where he furthered his research on gene mapping
. He retired as Head of Pathology in 1998 and moved to the Cambridge University Department of Veterinary Medicine. In 2002 he established the Cambridge Resource Centre for Comparative Genomics which produced and distributed chromosome-specific DNA
from over 120 species of animals, birds and fish to scientists worldwide for research in biology
, evolution
and gene mapping. This data allowed comparisons between species to be made and mapped mapped, illuminating the relationships between species and allowing research into genomic evolution.
In 1998 he was appointed as the scientist member of Lord Phillips’ Committee to review the UK Government’s original Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Inquiry
and consider the emergence of BSE and new variant CJD
and the actions taken, reporting in 2000.
He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1978 and the Royal Society of London in 1983.
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 was born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in 1931, the son of physician John Ferguson-Smith and graduated from Glasgow University in 1955 with a degree in Medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
. In 1955-1956 he was House Physician and House Surgeon at the Western Infirmary
Western Infirmary
The Western Infirmary is a teaching hospital situated in the West End of Glasgow, Scotland. There is also a Maggie's centre at the hospital to help cancer patients, as well as the Glasgow Clinical Research Facility....
in Glasgow and in 1956-1958 Senior House Officer and Registrar in Pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
. In 1959 he accepted a post as Fellow in Medicine at the School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
where he worked on chromosome analysis for nearly three years, establishing the first human chromosome diagnostic laboratory in the USA.
In 1961 he returned to the Department of Genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
at Glasgow University and was appointed successively Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Reader, becoming the first Burton Professor of Medical Genetics in 1973. Apart from teaching genetics to medical student
Medical Student
Medical Student may refer to:*Someone studying at medical school*Medical Student Newspaper, a UK publication...
s his duties involved the establishment of a Regional Genetics Service for the West of Scotland
West of Scotland
West of Scotland may refer to:*West of Scotland, an electoral region of the Scottish Parliament*Informally, an area comprising Argyll, Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire*West of Scotland Football Club*West of Scotland Cricket Club...
. This provided opportunities for contributing to the human gene map using familial chromosome polymorphisms
Polymorphism (biology)
Polymorphism in biology occurs when two or more clearly different phenotypes exist in the same population of a species — in other words, the occurrence of more than one form or morph...
, deletion mapping, in situ hybridization
In situ hybridization
In situ hybridization is a type of hybridization that uses a labeled complementary DNA or RNA strand to localize a specific DNA or RNA sequence in a portion or section of tissue , or, if the tissue is small enough , in the entire tissue...
and chromosome sorting by flow cytometry
Flow cytometry
Flow cytometry is a technique for counting and examining microscopic particles, such as cells and chromosomes, by suspending them in a stream of fluid and passing them by an electronic detection apparatus. It allows simultaneous multiparametric analysis of the physical and/or chemical...
. His work on mapping the Y-linked sex determinant in XX males led to the isolation of the mammalian sex-determining gene twenty-five years later.
In 1987 he was appointed Professor and Head of the Department of Pathology at Cambridge University and Director of the East Anglia Regional Genetics Service, where he furthered his research on gene mapping
Gene mapping
Gene mapping, also called genome mapping, is the creation of a genetic map assigning DNA fragments to chromosomes.When a genome is first investigated, this map is nonexistent. The map improves with the scientific progress and is perfect when the genomic DNA sequencing of the species has been...
. He retired as Head of Pathology in 1998 and moved to the Cambridge University Department of Veterinary Medicine. In 2002 he established the Cambridge Resource Centre for Comparative Genomics which produced and distributed chromosome-specific 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...
from over 120 species of animals, birds and fish to scientists worldwide for research in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
and gene mapping. This data allowed comparisons between species to be made and mapped mapped, illuminating the relationships between species and allowing research into genomic evolution.
In 1998 he was appointed as the scientist member of Lord Phillips’ Committee to review the UK Government’s original Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Inquiry
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy , commonly known as mad-cow disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in cattle that causes a spongy degeneration in the brain and spinal cord. BSE has a long incubation period, about 30 months to 8 years, usually affecting adult cattle at a peak age onset of...
and consider the emergence of BSE and new variant CJD
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease or CJD is a degenerative neurological disorder that is incurable and invariably fatal. CJD is at times called a human form of mad cow disease, given that bovine spongiform encephalopathy is believed to be the cause of variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in humans.CJD...
and the actions taken, reporting in 2000.
He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1978 and the Royal Society of London in 1983.
Publications
- Early Prenatal Diagnosis (1983)
- Prenatal Diagnosis & Screening (1992)
- Essential Medical Genetics (5 edn, 1997)