Nobel Prizes : cancer, vision, and the genetic code / Erling Norrby, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Sweden.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Norrby, Erling, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Medicine--Awards.

Medicine.

Physiology--Awards.

Physiology.

Nobel Prizes.

Nobel Prize winners.

Awards and Prizes.

Nobel Prize.

Neoplasms.

Vision, Ocular.

Genetic Code.

Medical Subjects:

Awards and Prizes.

Nobel Prize.

Physiology.

Neoplasms.

Vision, Ocular.

Genetic Code.

Physical Description:

xvi, 406 pages ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Singapore ; Hackensack, NJ : World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., [2019]

Summary:

"The present book discusses the prizes in physiology or medicine 1966-68. The 1966 prize recognized that viruses may be involved in cancer formation. Later studies revealed that these kinds of infectious agents could pick up and transmit cellular genes of importance for regulation of cellular growth. It was then possible to recognize that many genes of this kind could be involved in the formation of cancer. The disease was found to represent the dark side of evolution. As a consequence of this insight new means of treatment fortunately have been developed. The rear parts of the eyes are extensions of the central nervous system. They have a fascinating intrinsic complexity, the neurophysiology and biochemistry of which has been progressively analyzed. These revealing studies concern both our capacity to distinguish different colors and also our possibility to see in the dark. The Prize in 1967 identified seminal contributions in this wide field by Ragnar Granit, Haldan Hartline and George Wald. The 1968 Prize is distinct in its recognition of Robert Holley, Ghobind Khorana and Marshall Nirenberg, who in different ways had contributed to the cracking of the genetic code. Insights into the language used by Nature, since the dawn of cellular life some 4.6 billion years ago, have completely revolutionized modern life sciences. The capacity to read and also to write the books of life has defined new kinds of science, deepening our understanding of the magic of evolution and opened the possibilities for molecular medicine by understanding the genetic background to diseases, not least cancer"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Chapter 1 The Long Wait p. 1

Rous's Early Life p. 4

The Discovery and an Interlude of Other Science p. 7

Martin Arrowsmith p. 11

The First Evaluation of Rous. The Critical Role of Reproducibility of Scientific Data p. 17

The 1930s - Rabbit Warts and a New Start p. 21

A Foresighted Fairy Tale p. 25

New Nominations and New Conclusions p. 29

Evaluation of Rous's Continued Work in the 1940s p. 34

Tumor Viruses Come of Age in the 1950s p. 36

Klein's Insightful Review p. 41

Approaching a Nobel Prize at Last p. 44

Chapter 2 Hormone Treatment of Tumors and the Prize Events in 1966 p. 47

Discovery Is Our Business p. 50

The Nobel Committee Reviews a Surgeon p. 54

A Nobel Committee in a Quandary p. 60

The Prize Events in 1966 p. 67

The Aftermath and Nobel Medals p. 78

Chapter 3 Rous Virus and the Elucidation of the Genetic Nature of Cancer p. 85

A Premature General Attack on Cancer p. 86

The American "Nobel Prize" p. 90

A Critical Amendment of the Central Dogma p. 93

The Secrets of Rous Virus Finally Unraveled p. 98

Oncogenes Take the Stage p. 104

Tumor Suppressor Genes p. 106

Aging Cells and Cancer p. 111

Chromosomes and Genes in Cancer p. 114

Immune Defense and the Development of Cancer p. 121

The Human Microbiome and Cancer p. 125

Viruses and Cancer p. 128

The Hallmarks of Cancer p. 134

Chapter 4 The Rock Foundation of Nobel Prize Developments p. 139

A Harmonious and Challenging Upbringing p. 142

Training to Become a Neurobiologist p. 145

Fundamentals of the Process of Vision p. 148

The Rocky Road Towards a Stable Academic Position p. 151

A Change of Homeland and Post-War Developments p. 153

A Shift of Focus in Science p. 157

The Early Enthusiasm of the Nobel Committee p. 161

Turmoil in the Evaluation Process p. 166

Granit's Candidacy Back on Track p. 171

Finally an Expanded Basis for a Prize p. 177

Chapter 5 Visionary Contributions Gave a Happy Trio p. 181

A Student Born to Become a Scientist p. 184

Hartline's Career Takes Off p. 187

A Rich Personality p. 190

The Nobel Committee Reviews Hartline p. 193

An Exceptional and Narcissistic Eyewitness p. 198

Wald's Discoveries Catalyze the Prize Discussions p. 205

The Festivities and a Charming Mishap p. 214

Chapter 6 The Prime Author of the Saga of the Genetic Code p. 225

An Important Nobel Prize Given for Experiments Later Shown to be Flawed p. 228

The Lady Is a Trump p. 234

The Chagrin of Chargaff p. 236

Premature Discoveries Revisited p. 244

Crick and the Early Speculations on the Code p. 245

The Development of a Humble and Unassuming Scientist p. 248

NIH Provides an Important Home to Nirenberg p. 251

A Major Breakthrough p. 254

The Second Major Breakthrough p. 262

The Chemistry Committee Reviews Nirenberg p. 265

Evaluations of Nirenberg for a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine p. 270

Chapter 7 The Formation of a Trio for the 1968 Prize p. 283

Todd's Perspective on the Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids p. 285

A Star Biochemist with an Exceptional Background p. 288

The Review of Khorana for a Prize in Chemistry p. 290

The Late Nomination of Khorana for a Prize at the Karolinska Institute p. 294

The Third Man and a Single Molecule p. 296

Holley as a Candidate for a Prize in Chemistry p. 298

An Exemplary Review of Holley for a Prize in Physiology or Medicine p. 300

Decisions on the Prize in 1968 p. 306

Time for the 1968 Nobel Festivities p. 308

Life After Cracking the Genetic Code p. 318

Chapter 8 To See the Invisible and to Read the Unprinted p. 327

A Seemingly Analysis of the Wrong Nominee p. 329

Virus Particles Visualized for the First Time p. 331

Construction of an Electron Microscope p. 335

Possibilities to Examine the Structure of Cells p. 340

The Lukewarm Reception of Ernst Ruska by Physics Committees p. 342

The Three-Dimensional Structure of Complex and Aggregated Macromolecules p. 343

The Evolution of the Genetic Language Used Since the Dawn of Life p. 346

Insights Into an Unknown World of RNA p. 352

RNA and the Origin of Life on Earth p. 364

To the Greatest Benefit of Mankind p. 374.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9789811200854

9811200858

9789811200861

9811200866

OCLC:

1100784314