Tim Hunt

OIST BOG Members After Meeting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 4 October 2013 20131004

Tim Hunt (born 19 February 1943) is a British biochemist and molecular biologist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2001, sharing it with Leland H. Hartwell and Paul M. Nurse for their discoveries of protein molecules that control the division (cell cycle) of cells. His research has been instrumental in understanding the process of cell division, a fundamental aspect of cell biology and cancer research.

Early Life and Education

Tim Hunt was born in Neston, Cheshire, England. He developed an interest in biology at a young age. Hunt attended the University of Cambridge, where he received his PhD in biochemistry in 1968. His doctoral research focused on the control of protein synthesis in animal cells.

Career and Research

After completing his PhD, Hunt conducted postdoctoral research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and later at the University of Cambridge. His early work was on the control of protein synthesis and the discovery of cyclin, a protein that plays a key role in the regulation of the cell cycle.

In the late 1980s, Hunt's research led to the discovery of cyclins, proteins that accumulate and are degraded in each cell cycle. Cyclins are crucial for the transition from one phase of the cell cycle to the next, such as the transition from DNA synthesis phase to mitosis, the process by which cells divide. This discovery was pivotal in understanding how cells control their division and growth.

Hunt's work has had a significant impact on the field of cancer research, as abnormalities in cell cycle control can lead to the uncontrolled cell growth characteristic of cancer. His research has paved the way for the development of new cancer therapies that target the cell cycle.

Awards and Honors

In addition to the Nobel Prize, Tim Hunt has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to science, including being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 for his services to science. He is a member of the Royal Society and has received the Copley Medal, one of the most prestigious awards in scientific research.

Controversy

In 2015, Tim Hunt was involved in a controversy following comments he made about women in science at a conference in South Korea, suggesting that "three things happen when they are in the lab: You fall in love with them, they fall in love with you, and when you criticize them, they cry." These remarks led to widespread criticism and his resignation from several positions, including an honorary professorship at University College London.

Legacy

Despite the controversy, Tim Hunt's contributions to the understanding of the cell cycle and its regulation remain a significant achievement in the field of molecular biology. His work has not only advanced our understanding of fundamental biological processes but also has implications for the treatment of diseases such as cancer.