6 PIONEERS OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE
Like most scientific fields, molecular medicine didn’t start out with its present-day name. Molecular medicine is the next step in the progression of molecular biology, and the pioneers of that field can therefore also be seen as the true pioneers of molecular medicine. Let’s meet some of them and review their contributions to molecular medicine and biotechnology now.
Miescher is credited with discovering nucleic acids. In 1869, while working with white blood cells taken from pus drawn from hospital bandages, Miescher isolated a new class of molecules. These were rich in phosphorus and, unlike proteins, did not respond to available protein chemical tests. Miescher named this substance “nuclein,” which was later recognized as a key component of the cell nucleus.
Miescher’s discovery laid the foundation for the identification of nucleic acids: essential molecules in the storage and transmission of genetic information. His work paved the way for the discovery that deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), one of the two main types of nucleic acids, was the carrier of genetic instructions in cells.
2. Phoebus Levene
Levene made significant contributions to the understanding of nucleic acids, particularly ribonucleic acid (RNA) and DNA. In 1909, Levene determined that the carbohydrate within yeast nucleic acid is the pentose sugar ribose. Two decades later, in 1929, he successfully identified the carbohydrate in thymus nucleic acid. Though some of his work was eventually revised by others through additional research, he is acknowledged for:
- Identifying nucleotide components.
- Distinguishing between DNA and RNA.
- Discovering polynucleotide chains.
- Recognizing the four nucleotide bases of DNA.
3. William Astbury
Astbury played a pivotal role in popularizing and advancing the emerging field of molecular biology, which sought to understand the intricacies of living systems by investigating the 3D structure of their molecules. He initiated his research by studying wool fibers for the textile industries. Astbury was a trailblazer in employing X-rays to determine the structure of large biological molecules like proteins. Additionally, alongside his research assistant Florence Bell, Astbury made the first attempt at unravelling the structure of DNA, the fundamental genetic molecule. He coined the term “molecular biology” in 1945.
4. Linus Pauling
A leading member of the group of researchers who published the groundbreaking paper “Sickle Cell Anemia, a Molecular Disease” in 1949, Pauling has been called the “founding father of molecular biology.” That paper, which established that sickle cell anemia was a genetic condition, is widely regarded as the starting point for the emergence of molecular medicine as a distinct field. Making news outside the scientific community, their research revealed the causal connection between a disease and an abnormal protein, emphasizing the role of genes in shaping the structure of proteins.
5. Crick, Franklin, Watson and Wilkins
Hailing from different geographic and scientific backgrounds, researchers Francis Crick, Rosalind Franklin, James Watson and Maurice Wilkins each contributed in different ways to the discovery of DNA’s double-helix structure in 1953. DNA holds the blueprints for building proteins within the body, including various enzymes. The determination that DNA comprises two intertwined chains, forming double helices composed of alternating phosphate and sugar groups, gave the scientific community a fresh perspective on genetics and genetic diseases.
6. Kjell Kleppe
In 1969, Kleppe unveiled his recent DNA experiments, marking the initial stage in the creation of a technique known as polymerase chain reaction, commonly abbreviated as PCR. This technique amplifies DNA in a way that enables lab technicians to identify a virus that has infected an individual. The groundwork laid by Kleppe’s research now underpins the methodologies employed in current COVID-19 testing and cancer studies.
HELP US FURTHER THE CRUCIAL WORK OF THESE PIONEERS
Continuing the work of the trailblazers featured here, we at the University of Mississippi Medical Center are actively contributing to significant research in molecular medicine. You can join us in this critical field through our online Molecular Medicine Graduate Certificate Program. Led by primary faculty from UMMC’s School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences, our Program is designed to equip you for diverse and fulfilling careers in healthcare, including molecular medicine and beyond.
UMMC is situated in Jackson, Mississippi, but our Program was created to benefit students from all corners of the globe. You can complete your studies entirely online from almost anywhere and finish our 11-14 credit Certificate Program in as little as two semesters. With no mandatory visits to our campus and asynchronous courses, our Program enables you to conveniently tailor your schedule to accommodate personal and professional commitments. This flexibility sets our Program apart.
For further details or to apply to UMMC’s online Molecular Medicine Graduate Certificate Program, visit our website now!
Sources:
https://www.nature.com/articles/nm0299_140
https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/discovery-of-dna-structure-and-function-watson-397/
https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Polymerase-Chain-Reaction
