Max Delbrück

Max Delbruck

Freie Universitaet Berlin Otto-Hahn-Bau im Winter 01-2005

Plaque in Buttrick Hall

Max Delbrück (September 4, 1906 – March 9, 1981) was a German-American biophysicist and a Nobel Laureate, best known for his work on the genetics of viruses. Delbrück's pioneering research in the field of molecular biology has had a profound impact on our understanding of the genetic mechanisms of viruses, laying the groundwork for the development of molecular genetics.

Early Life and Education

Max Delbrück was born in Berlin, Germany, into an influential family. His father was a history professor, and his mother was a painter. Delbrück initially pursued studies in astrophysics, but after attending a lecture by Max Planck, he shifted his focus to theoretical physics. He received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Göttingen in 1930.

Career and Research

After completing his doctorate, Delbrück spent time working with Niels Bohr in Copenhagen, where he became interested in biology and the application of physics to biological systems. This interest led him to propose the Delbrück model, which applied quantum mechanics to explain gene mutation.

In the late 1930s, Delbrück moved to the United States, where he continued his research at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). It was here that he began his groundbreaking work on bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria. Along with Salvador Luria and Alfred Hershey, Delbrück developed the Luria-Delbrück experiment, which demonstrated that bacterial resistance to viruses was due to random mutations and not a response to the environment. This work was crucial in proving that Darwinian principles of mutation and selection apply to bacteria and viruses, a foundational concept in molecular biology.

Delbrück's interest in phages led to the establishment of the Phage Group, a collaborative network of scientists dedicated to the study of bacteriophages. This group played a key role in the development of molecular biology as a discipline.

Nobel Prize

In 1969, Max Delbrück, along with Salvador Luria and Alfred Hershey, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning the replication mechanism and the genetic structure of viruses. This award recognized their contributions to the field of virology and molecular genetics, which have had lasting impacts on biology and medicine.

Legacy

Max Delbrück's work has left a lasting legacy in the fields of biology and genetics. He is remembered not only for his scientific achievements but also for his philosophy of science, which emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary research and the application of physical principles to biological problems. Delbrück's contributions to the understanding of the genetic mechanisms of viruses have paved the way for advances in genetics, biotechnology, and medicine.

Delbrück was also a mentor to many scientists, and his approach to research and education has influenced generations of biologists. His legacy continues to inspire researchers in the quest to understand the complexities of life at the molecular level.

See Also

• Molecular biology
• Genetics
• Virology
• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine