George Church (geneticist)

George Church in 2023 04

George Church
Born	George McDonald Church August 28, 1954 Macon, Georgia, United States
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Duke University, Harvard University
Known for	Personal genomics, Synthetic biology, Genome sequencing
Awards	Heineken Prize (2016), BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award (2018)
Scientific career
Fields	Genetics, Molecular engineering, Chemistry
Institutions	Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Doctoral advisor	Walter Gilbert

George McDonald Church (born August 28, 1954) is an American geneticist, molecular engineer, and chemist. He is a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and a professor of health sciences and technology at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Church is known for his pioneering contributions to personal genomics and synthetic biology.

Early life and education

George Church was born in Macon, Georgia. He attended Duke University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in zoology and chemistry in 1974. He then pursued a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology at Harvard University, where he worked under the supervision of Walter Gilbert.

Career

After completing his Ph.D., Church joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School and has since become a prominent figure in the fields of genetics and synthetic biology. He is a founding member of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard.

Personal genomics

Church is a leading advocate for personal genomics, which involves sequencing and analyzing an individual's genome to provide personalized medical information. He was one of the first individuals to have his entire genome sequenced and made publicly available. His work has significantly contributed to the development of genome sequencing technologies, making them more accessible and affordable.

Synthetic biology

In the field of synthetic biology, Church has been instrumental in developing techniques for genome editing and genetic engineering. He has worked on projects involving the creation of synthetic organisms and the development of new biotechnology applications. His research has implications for medicine, agriculture, and environmental science.

Awards and honors

Church has received numerous awards for his contributions to science, including the Heineken Prize in 2016 and the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in 2018. He is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering.

Selected publications

• Church, G. M., & Gilbert, W. (1984). Genomic sequencing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 81(7), 1991-1995.
• Church, G. M. (2005). The Personal Genome Project. Molecular Systems Biology, 1(1).

See also

• CRISPR
• Human Genome Project
• Biotechnology
• Genetic engineering