George Church (geneticist)

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George Church in 2023 04
George Church
Born
George McDonald Church

August 28, 1954
NationalityAmerican
Alma materDuke University, Harvard University
Known forPersonal genomics, Synthetic biology, Genome sequencing
AwardsHeineken Prize (2016), BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award (2018)
Scientific career
FieldsGenetics, Molecular engineering, Chemistry
InstitutionsHarvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Doctoral advisorWalter 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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

  • 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[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]


Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD