Foreword Sir Edwin Southern; Acknowledgements; Brief chronology and honours; Introduction; 1. A Quaker upbringing; 2. How about studying insulin?; 3. Radioactive sequencing of proteins and nucleic acids; 4. Interview of Fred by the author in 1992. Early life; 5. Interview of Fred by the author in 1992. Insulin and the Biochemistry Department, Cambridge University; 6. Interview of Fred by the author, 1992. Nucleic Acids at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge; 7. Post-Sanger sequencing – high throughput, automated sequencing; 8. Cancer – the impact of New Generation Sequencing; 9. Commentaries on Fred Sanger's scientific legacy by Paul Berg, Elizabeth Blackburn, Sir John Sulston, David Bentley and Paul Nurse; Epilogue; Endnotes; Bibliography; Index.
The first biography of Fred Sanger, shedding light on his remarkable life and career and exploring his continuing legacy.
George G. Brownlee is Emeritus Professor of Chemical Pathology at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, and a Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. He studied under Fred Sanger at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, where he later became an independent researcher. He is a recipient of the Biochemical Society's Colworth and Wellcome Trust medals, a Fellow of the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences and is an EMBO member. He received the Haemophilia Medal (France) and gave the Owren Lecture (Norway) for his pioneering work on haemophilia. He retired in 2008 to write this biography.
'Fred Sanger's innovation and achievements enabled us to read the
code of life. His breakthroughs transformed science, medicine,
industry and society, and continue to open our eyes to a new
knowledge and understanding of how life works … This book provides
a rare opportunity to see a glimpse of a remarkable man who changed
the world.' David Bentley, Vice-President and chief scientist,
Illumina Inc., Cambridge
'Every student of molecular biology would profit greatly by
lingering over Sanger's own descriptions of the several strategies
he attempted and the tools he had to invent to arrive at what is
referred to today as Sanger DNA Sequencing … Sanger's success
transformed molecular biology in inestimable ways and his
methodology is equally foundational in such varied fields as
evolutionary biology, plant breeding, paleontology, anthropology,
linguistics, forensics and computer science … Fred Sanger was
motivated by the challenge of discovery and believed fervently that
through art and science, in their broadest senses, it is possible
to make a lasting contribution towards the improvement and
enrichment of human life.' Paul Berg, Stanford University,
California
'As this wonderfully illuminating biography of Sanger reveals, his
contributions were deceptively simple but profoundly far-reaching …
Fred Sanger was truly an extraordinary individual whose influence
in modern biological and biomedical sciences cannot be overstated.'
Elizabeth Blackburn, University of California, San Francisco
'Fred Sanger was an extraordinary scientist as is evident from this
informative biographical essay, celebrating his life and his
contributions to science. To be awarded one Nobel Prize is very
rare, to be awarded two, as was the case for Fred, has only been
accomplished by four individuals in over one hundred years. His was
a truly outstanding life … Fred is one of those few individuals of
whom it can be said that they changed the world for ever. This
essay gives a personal insight into his science and what he
achieved. It allows all of us to be a little closer to this gentle,
modest man of genius.' Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal
Society, London
'Sanger, typical of many successful scientists, is reserved, even
shy so we are fortunate that he offered to be interviewed. This
book provides a wide-ranging account of his early life and his
scientific career … The biography will provide inspiration and
encouragement for aspiring inventors, for whom there is still a
great need. Above all, it provides lessons for the funders: to find
the next Sanger, they must be prepared to give long term support
with strings loosely attached.' Sir Ed Southern, University of
Oxford, from the Foreword
'If you type the word 'Sanger' into a search engine, you may find
that the Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge - named after Fred -
comes out on top. I think he wouldn't have minded that. He has a
living memorial - better than a statue … Sanger taught us to read
the information of life, so that we can begin to understand it.'
Sir John Sulston, founding Director of the Wellcome Trust Sanger
Institute, Cambridge
'This intimate biography gives readers an unparalleled glimpse into
the life of a scientist who transformed biomedical research. This
work is filled with scientific details that will delight a
biochemist, is accessible to lay readers, and will certainly
inspire budding scientists and established academics alike.' ISCB
Newsletter
'Revealing and fascinating.' Nature
'The biography is well illustrated, very readable … a fascinating
insight into the man, told very much, one feels, the way he would
have wanted … [It] is a wonderful introduction to the man and his
science. Read it and see what you think.' Hugh Pelham, The
Biochemist
'This is a great read and one that I would recommend to any student
considering a career in the biological sciences - they will find a
hero in Sanger and, in doing so, will be inspired.' Andy Squires,
The Biologist
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