Alexander Hollaender
Alexander Hollaender | |
|---|---|
 Alexander Hollaender at Cold Spring Harbor Symposium, c. 1950's
Photograph byEsther Lederberg | |
| Born | December 9, 1898 |
| Died | December 6, 1986(aged 87) |
| Known for | Radiation-induced mutations |
| Awards | Enrico Fermi Award(1983) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory |
Alexander Hollaender(9 December 1898 – 6 December 1986) was one of the world's leading researchers inradiation biologyand in genetic mutations. In 1983 he was given theEnrico Fermi Awardby theUnited States Department of Energyfor his contributions in founding the science of radiation biology, and for his leadership in promoting "scientific exchanges" between American scientists and scientists fromdeveloping countries.[1]
Hollaender was born inSamter,German Empire(Szamotuły, Poland), he emigrated to the US in 1921.[2] In 1939 Hollaender published research showing that the mutations of spores of theringworm fungusoccurred in the samespectrumas theabsorption spectrumofnucleic acidsindicating that nucleic acids form the building blocks ofgenes.[3]A youngEsther M. Zimmer,who worked with Dr. Hollaender at the U. S. Public Health Service (Bethesda, MD),[4]published with Dr. Hollaender,Eva SansomeandMilislav Demerecin this very early field of x-ray- and UV-induced mutations.[5][6]Later on, Esther M. Zimmer (nowEsther Lederberg) became one of the most influential founders of bacterial and bacteriophage (Lambda phage) genetics. Later on, Hollaender worked atOak Ridge National LaboratorieswithM. Laurance Morse,who himself later went on to collaborate with Esther Lederberg.
His research was not appreciated for its discovery at the time, and later scientists reports were necessary before science accepted the role of nucleic acids as the genetic material.[3]Historians of science now realize his early discovery, and his Fermi Award recognized this discovery.[1][3]
In 1981 Hollaender established the Council for Research Planning in Biological Sciences, and was its president at the time of his death from a pulmonary embolism in 1986.[7]The USNational Academy of Sciencesgives theAlexander Hollaender Award in Biophysicsevery three years in his honor.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ab"The Enrico Fermi Award 1983".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-12-22.Retrieved2009-11-29.
- ^Alexander Hollaender, in memoriamR.C. von Borstel
- ^abcvon Borstel, R. C.; Charles M. Steinberg (July 1996)."Alexander Hollaender: Myth and Mensch".Genetics.143(3): 1051–1056.doi:10.1093/genetics/143.3.1051.PMC1207377.PMID8807280.Retrieved2009-11-29.
- ^"Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg: Professional Records".
- ^Hollaender, A. andZimmer, E. M.,January 1945 (September, 1944), "The effect of ultraviolet radiation and X-rays on mutation production in Penicillium notatum",Genetics Society of America30(1):8; seehttp://www.estherlederberg.com/Papers.html
- ^Hollaender, A.,Sansome E. R.,Zimmer, E.,Demerec, M.,April 1945, "Quantitative Irradiation Experiments with Neurospora crassa. II. Ultraviolet Irradiation",American Journal of Botany32(4):226-235; seehttp://www.estherlederberg.com/Papers.html
- ^"Alexander Hollaender".IEEE Global History Network.IEEE.Retrieved21 July2011.
- ^"Alexander Hollaender Award in Biophysics".
