Walter Gilbert

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Walter Gilbert (born March 21, 1932) is an American biochemist and molecular biologist. He is best known for his contributions to the development of DNA sequencing techniques and for his work in the field of genetics. Gilbert was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1980, along with Frederick Sanger and Paul Berg, for their contributions to the understanding of nucleic acids.

Early Life and Education

Walter Gilbert was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended the Harvard College, where he earned his B.A. in Physics in 1953. He then went on to earn his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge in 1957.

Career

After completing his Ph.D., Gilbert returned to Harvard, where he initially worked in the field of theoretical physics. However, his interests soon shifted to molecular biology, and he joined the laboratory of James Watson, co-discoverer of the DNA double helix.

DNA Sequencing

Walter Gilbert is renowned for developing one of the first methods for sequencing DNA, known as the Maxam-Gilbert sequencing method. This technique, developed in collaboration with Allan Maxam, was one of the first practical methods for determining the sequence of nucleotides in a DNA molecule.

Nobel Prize

In 1980, Gilbert was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his contributions to the development of DNA sequencing techniques. He shared the prize with Frederick Sanger, who developed the Sanger sequencing method, and Paul Berg, who was recognized for his work on recombinant DNA.

Later Work

In addition to his work on DNA sequencing, Gilbert has made significant contributions to the field of genomics. He was one of the founders of Biogen, a biotechnology company that focuses on the development of therapies for neurological diseases. Gilbert has also been involved in the Human Genome Project, an international research effort to map and understand all the genes of the human species.

Awards and Honors

• Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1980)
• National Medal of Science (1993)
• Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research (1979)

Personal Life

Walter Gilbert is married and has two children. He continues to be active in the scientific community and serves on the boards of several biotechnology companies.

See Also

• DNA sequencing
• Maxam-Gilbert sequencing
• Frederick Sanger
• Paul Berg
• Human Genome Project
• Biogen