Waclaw Szybalski
Encyclopedia
Wacław Szybalski is a professor of oncology
at the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Medical School.
, into a Polish intelligentsia
family. His father Stefan was an engineer
, and his mother, Michalina née
Rakowska, was a Doctor of Chemistry
. The Szybalski family maintained close friendships with numerous leading representatives of the Polish intelligentsia in Lwów, including Professor Jan Czekanowski
, the father of Polish anthropology
, and the outstanding bacteriologist, Professor Rudolf Stefan Weigl.
In 1939 Szybalski graduated from the famous Gymnasium no. 8 in Lwów. After World War II
broke out, from 23 September 1939, Lwów was occupied by the Soviet Union
. Szybalski joined the Chemistry Department at the Lwów Polytechnic
, where he was entranced by the lectures of Professor Adolf Joszt
, a leading expert on processes of fermentation
. Joszt even then held a vision of developing science in the direction of genetic engineering
and biotechnology
, which had a direct influence on Szybalski's future scientific development.
Szybalski subsequently emigrated to the United States
and became a professor of oncology
at the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Medical School.
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
at the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, 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...
Medical School.
Life
Wacław Szybalski was born in 1921 in Lwów, PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, into a Polish intelligentsia
Intelligentsia
The intelligentsia is a social class of people engaged in complex, mental and creative labor directed to the development and dissemination of culture, encompassing intellectuals and social groups close to them...
family. His father Stefan was an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, and his mother, Michalina née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Rakowska, was a Doctor of Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
. The Szybalski family maintained close friendships with numerous leading representatives of the Polish intelligentsia in Lwów, including Professor Jan Czekanowski
Jan Czekanowski
Jan Czekanowski was a Polish anthropologist, statistician and linguist. Czekanowski is known for having played an important role in saving the Polish-Lithuanian branch of the Karaim people from Holocaust extermination...
, the father of Polish anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, and the outstanding bacteriologist, Professor Rudolf Stefan Weigl.
In 1939 Szybalski graduated from the famous Gymnasium no. 8 in Lwów. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out, from 23 September 1939, Lwów was occupied by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Szybalski joined the Chemistry Department at the Lwów Polytechnic
Lviv Polytechnic
Lviv Polytechnic National University is the largest scientific university in Lviv. Since its foundation in 1844, it was one of the most important centres of science and technological development in Central Europe. In the interbellum period, the Polytechnic was one of the most important technical...
, where he was entranced by the lectures of Professor Adolf Joszt
Adolf Joszt
Adolf Joszt was a Polish chemist, considered to be a significant precursor to the practices of biotechnology and environmental protection....
, a leading expert on processes of fermentation
Fermentation (biochemistry)
Fermentation is the process of extracting energy from the oxidation of organic compounds, such as carbohydrates, using an endogenous electron acceptor, which is usually an organic compound. In contrast, respiration is where electrons are donated to an exogenous electron acceptor, such as oxygen,...
. Joszt even then held a vision of developing science in the direction of genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
and biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
, which had a direct influence on Szybalski's future scientific development.
Szybalski subsequently emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and became a professor of oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
at the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, 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...
Medical School.