Marie Maynard Daly

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Marie Maynard Daly

Marie Maynard Daly (April 16, 1921 – October 28, 2003) was an American biochemist and the first African-American woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry. Her groundbreaking research in the fields of protein synthesis, the chemistry of histones, and the relationship between cholesterol and hypertension has had a lasting impact on the scientific community.

Early Life and Education

Marie Maynard Daly was born in Queens, New York City. She was inspired by her father, who had aspired to become a chemist but was unable to complete his education due to financial constraints. Daly attended Hunter College High School and later graduated with honors from Queens College with a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1942. She then earned her master's degree in chemistry from New York University in 1943.

Daly pursued her doctoral studies at Columbia University, where she worked under the guidance of Dr. Mary Letitia Caldwell. In 1947, she became the first African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. in chemistry in the United States.

Career and Research

After completing her Ph.D., Daly conducted postdoctoral research at the Rockefeller Institute (now Rockefeller University) and later at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Her research focused on the composition and metabolism of nucleic acids and proteins.

Daly's work on histones, the proteins that package and order DNA into structural units called nucleosomes, was pioneering. She was among the first to demonstrate that histones play a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression.

In the 1950s, Daly joined the faculty at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University, where she continued her research on the biochemical basis of hypertension. Her studies on the relationship between cholesterol and hypertension provided important insights into the mechanisms of cardiovascular disease.

Legacy and Honors

Marie Maynard Daly's contributions to science have been widely recognized. She was a role model and mentor for many young scientists, particularly women and minorities in the field of chemistry. Daly was a member of several professional organizations, including the American Chemical Society and the American Society of Biological Chemists.

In her honor, the Marie Maynard Daly Scholarship was established at Queens College to support minority students pursuing studies in the sciences.

Personal Life

Marie Maynard Daly was married to Vincent Clark. She was known for her dedication to education and her efforts to increase diversity in the sciences. Daly passed away on October 28, 2003, leaving behind a legacy of scientific achievement and advocacy for underrepresented groups in science.

See Also

• List of African-American women in STEM fields
• History of women in science
• Protein synthesis
• Histone
• Cholesterol
• Hypertension