09 January - Hargobind Khorana birth anniversary

 

Hargobind Khorana (09 January 1922 – 09 November 2011) was an Indian-American biochemist renowned for his work in the field of genetics and molecular biology. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1968 for his contributions to deciphering the genetic code and interpreting the mechanism of protein synthesis. Here are some key points about Hargobind Khorana:

1. Birth and Education: Hargobind Khorana was born in Raipur, British India (now in Pakistan). He completed his education in India, earning a Bachelor's degree from Punjab University and a Master's degree from the University of Punjab in Lahore.

2. Doctoral Studies in England: In 1948, Khorana moved to England for his doctoral studies. He received his Ph.D. in 1952 from the University of Liverpool.

3. Research on Nucleic Acids: After completing his Ph.D., Khorana worked at the University of Cambridge and later at the University of British Columbia. His research focused on nucleic acids and the genetic code.

4. Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1968): Hargobind Khorana shared the Nobel Prize with Robert W. Holley and Marshall W. Nirenberg. Their work helped to unravel the genetic code and understand how the sequence of nucleotide bases in DNA instructs the synthesis of proteins.

5. Synthesizing the First Artificial Gene: In 1972, Khorana and his team synthesized the first artificial gene. This groundbreaking achievement paved the way for advances in genetic engineering.

6. Academic Positions: Khorana held various academic positions during his career, including professorships at institutions like the University of Wisconsin and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

7. Later Years and Honors: In his later years, Khorana continued to contribute to scientific research. He received numerous honors and awards for his significant contributions to the field of biochemistry and molecular biology.

Hargobind Khorana's research laid the foundation for understanding the genetic code and opened new avenues in the field of biotechnology. His work has had a profound impact on the scientific community and has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of genetics and molecular biology.