Caspersson made several key contributions to biology.
In the 1934 he and Einar Hammarsten showed that DNA was a polymer. Previous theories suggested that each molecule was only ten nucleotides long.
He provided William Astbury with well prepared samples of DNA for Astbury's pioneering structural measurements.
In 1936, in his doctoral thesis in chemistry, presented at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, he first studied genetic material inside a cell with an ultravioletmicroscope to determine the nucleic acid content of cellular structures such as the nucleus and nucleolus using the Feulgen reaction to stain the DNA.
He worked with Jack Schultz in Stockholm from 1937 to 1939 on protein synthesis is cells and published the work in 1939, where he independent of Jean Brachet, working out the same problem using a different technique, found that cells making proteins are rich in ribonucleic acids RNA, implying that RNA is required to make proteins. This was summarised in his book 'Cell Growth and Cell Function' (1950).
He received a personal professorship from the Swedish state in 1944.
He became head of the newly created department for cell research and genetics at the Medical Nobel Institute, at the Karolinska, in 1945.
He was the first to study the giant chromosomes found in insect larvae.
He studied the role of the nucleolus in protein synthesis.
He examined the relationship between the quantity of heterochromatin (chromosomes with few genes) and the rate of growth of cancer cells.
In 1969 when working at the Karolinska Institute, he (with Lore Zech) found that a stain (quinacrine mustard) caused chromosomes to show light and dark lateral bands along their length. This banding method permits the accurate identification of all 22 autosomes and the X and Y chromosomes. This technique highlighted slight structural abnormalities and specific identification of the extra chromosomes involved in conditions such as Down's syndrome (see also cytogenetics).
In 1977 he retired as head of the medical cell research and genetics department at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm
In 1979 Caspersson was awarded the Balzan Prize for Biology "For his fundamental studies on protein metabolism and nucleic acids, culminating in a method for identifying specific bands on individual chromosomes by ultraviolet microscopy, thereby creating a new tool for the study of evolution" (motivation of the Balzan General Prize Committee). He was a member of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society.[1][2]
References
Hagemann, Rudolf (2007). "[The Watson-Crick model of the DNA doublehelix. The history of the discovery and the role of the protein paradigm]". Acta Historica Leopoldina (48): 113–58. PMID 18447191.
Reichard, Peter (April 2002). "Osvald T. Avery and the Nobel Prize in medicine". J. Biol. Chem.277 (16): 13355–62. doi:10.1074/jbc.R200002200. PMID 11872756.
Zelenin, A V; Zoshchuk N V (2000). "[The history of modern chromosome analysis. The founding contribution of the works of Caspersson]". Ontogenez. 31 (2): 152–60. PMID 10776643.
Gustavson, K H (December 1999). "[New milestones in the history of genetics. Successful gene therapy can soon be a reality]". Läkartidningen. 96 (51–52): 5764–8. PMID 10643263.
Ruddle, F H (April 1989). "Tribute to Torbjörn Caspersson". Am. J. Hum. Genet.44 (4): 439–40. PMC1715562. PMID 2648818.
Klein, G; Klein E (July 1984). "Torbjörn Caspersson: some personal perspectives". Cytometry. 5 (4): 318. doi:10.1002/cyto.990050405. PMID 6380993.
Mayall, B H (July 1984). "Torbjörn Oskar Caspersson: curriculum vitae and selected publications". Cytometry. 5 (4): 314–7. doi:10.1002/cyto.990050404. PMID 6380992.
Bahr, G F (June 1984). "Torbjörn Oscar Caspersson, M.D., F.I.A.C.: 75 years". Analytical and Quantitative Cytology. 6 (2): 71–3. PMID 6380366.
Kempe, C (February 1980). "[The Balzan-Prize: Detailed studies of chromosomes—a diagnostic revolution]". Läkartidningen. 77 (7): 503–4. PMID 6990136.
Müller, J H (1976). "[Laudation of the prize winners of the Paul-Ehrlich and Ludwig-Darmstaedter award 1977 Torbjörn Caspersson and Jean Bertrand Gurdon]". Arbeiten aus dem Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, dem Georg-Speyer-Haus und dem Ferdinand-Blum-Institut zu Frankfurt A.M. (72): 23–6. PMID 802159.
External links
International Balzan Foundation
^"Torbjorn Oskar Caspersson". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
^"APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
January 04, 2023
torbjörn, caspersson, torbjörn, oskar, caspersson, october, 1910, december, 1997, swedish, cytologist, geneticist, born, motala, attended, university, stockholm, where, studied, medicine, biophysics, born, 1910, october, 1910motaladied7, december, 1997, 1997, . Torbjorn Oskar Caspersson 15 October 1910 7 December 1997 was a Swedish cytologist and geneticist He was born in Motala and attended the University of Stockholm where he studied medicine and biophysics Torbjorn CasperssonBorn 1910 10 15 15 October 1910MotalaDied7 December 1997 1997 12 07 aged 87 NationalitySwedishAlma materUniversity of StockholmKnown forNucleic acidsAwardsBjorkenska priset 1945 Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize 1977 Balzan Prize 1979 William Allan Award 1988 Scientific careerFieldsCell biology GeneticsContributions EditCaspersson made several key contributions to biology In the 1934 he and Einar Hammarsten showed that DNA was a polymer Previous theories suggested that each molecule was only ten nucleotides long He provided William Astbury with well prepared samples of DNA for Astbury s pioneering structural measurements In 1936 in his doctoral thesis in chemistry presented at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm he first studied genetic material inside a cell with an ultraviolet microscope to determine the nucleic acid content of cellular structures such as the nucleus and nucleolus using the Feulgen reaction to stain the DNA He worked with Jack Schultz in Stockholm from 1937 to 1939 on protein synthesis is cells and published the work in 1939 where he independent of Jean Brachet working out the same problem using a different technique found that cells making proteins are rich in ribonucleic acids RNA implying that RNA is required to make proteins This was summarised in his book Cell Growth and Cell Function 1950 He received a personal professorship from the Swedish state in 1944 He became head of the newly created department for cell research and genetics at the Medical Nobel Institute at the Karolinska in 1945 He was the first to study the giant chromosomes found in insect larvae He studied the role of the nucleolus in protein synthesis He examined the relationship between the quantity of heterochromatin chromosomes with few genes and the rate of growth of cancer cells In 1969 when working at the Karolinska Institute he with Lore Zech found that a stain quinacrine mustard caused chromosomes to show light and dark lateral bands along their length This banding method permits the accurate identification of all 22 autosomes and the X and Y chromosomes This technique highlighted slight structural abnormalities and specific identification of the extra chromosomes involved in conditions such as Down s syndrome see also cytogenetics In 1977 he retired as head of the medical cell research and genetics department at the Karolinska Institute in StockholmIn 1979 Caspersson was awarded the Balzan Prize for Biology For his fundamental studies on protein metabolism and nucleic acids culminating in a method for identifying specific bands on individual chromosomes by ultraviolet microscopy thereby creating a new tool for the study of evolution motivation of the Balzan General Prize Committee He was a member of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society 1 2 References EditHagemann Rudolf 2007 The Watson Crick model of the DNA doublehelix The history of the discovery and the role of the protein paradigm Acta Historica Leopoldina 48 113 58 PMID 18447191 Klein George Klein Eva March 2003 Torbjorn Caspersson 15 October 1910 7 December 1997 Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 147 1 73 5 JSTOR 1558129 PMID 12962132 Reichard Peter April 2002 Osvald T Avery and the Nobel Prize in medicine J Biol Chem 277 16 13355 62 doi 10 1074 jbc R200002200 PMID 11872756 Zelenin A V Zoshchuk N V 2000 The history of modern chromosome analysis The founding contribution of the works of Caspersson Ontogenez 31 2 152 60 PMID 10776643 Gustavson K H December 1999 New milestones in the history of genetics Successful gene therapy can soon be a reality Lakartidningen 96 51 52 5764 8 PMID 10643263 Ruddle F H April 1989 Tribute to Torbjorn Caspersson Am J Hum Genet 44 4 439 40 PMC 1715562 PMID 2648818 Klein G Klein E July 1984 Torbjorn Caspersson some personal perspectives Cytometry 5 4 318 doi 10 1002 cyto 990050405 PMID 6380993 Mayall B H July 1984 Torbjorn Oskar Caspersson curriculum vitae and selected publications Cytometry 5 4 314 7 doi 10 1002 cyto 990050404 PMID 6380992 Bahr G F June 1984 Torbjorn Oscar Caspersson M D F I A C 75 years Analytical and Quantitative Cytology 6 2 71 3 PMID 6380366 Kempe C February 1980 The Balzan Prize Detailed studies of chromosomes a diagnostic revolution Lakartidningen 77 7 503 4 PMID 6990136 Muller J H 1976 Laudation of the prize winners of the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter award 1977 Torbjorn Caspersson and Jean Bertrand Gurdon Arbeiten aus dem Paul Ehrlich Institut dem Georg Speyer Haus und dem Ferdinand Blum Institut zu Frankfurt A M 72 23 6 PMID 802159 External links EditKay Guide at amphilsoc org International Balzan Foundation Torbjorn Oskar Caspersson American Academy of Arts amp Sciences Retrieved 10 August 2022 APS Member History search amphilsoc org Retrieved 10 August 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Torbjorn Caspersson amp oldid 1115936267, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
