Susumu tonegawa biography template

One was that germ cells innately contained the genetic information to generate diverse susumu tonegawa biographies template. The other was that the cells which produce antibodies undergo a maturation process that changes the genetic information. We then used DNA-RNA hybridization to estimate the number of genes involved in the lambda-light-chain variable-region of the antibodies based on the speed of hybridization.

As a result, we discovered that a relatively small number of genes were involved, thus leaning towards the second line of thinking. At the same time, we conducted research involving the rearrangement of antibody genes. On a cold winter weekend we obtained some astonishing results. From DNA obtained from fetal mouse cells, separated encoding genes for variable regions and constant regions of antibodies had recombined in the myeloma cells that produce antibodies.

Genetic rearrangement had occurred through the process of differentiation, and it then became evident that various antibodies could be generated in this way. This achievement was heartily accepted at a symposium sponsored by Prof. Since moving to MIT, I have become increasingly interested in the science of the brain, where major mysteries still remain.

During the first decade at MIT, we conducted research using knockout mice in immunology experiments. We are now using that same technology to tackle the question of creating memories. Inwe specifically identified neurons which become active during learning, and then activated those neurons by optogenetics method. From this experiment, reconstruction of memories themselves was shown to be possible.

Philosopher Rene Descartes advocated dualism, asserting that the mind and body are separate. Tonegawa was an early adopter of optogenetics and biotechnology in neuroscience research, leading to his groundbreaking work identifying and manipulating memory engram cells. Inhis lab demonstrated that the activation of a specific sub-population of mouse hippocampal neurons, labelled during a fear conditioning paradigm, is sufficient to evoke a behavioral response correlated with a precise memory trace.

This demonstrated for the first time that memory information is stored in specific cellular ensembles in the hippocampusnow frequently called memory engram cells. More recently, his lab continues to employ optogenetic technology and virus injection techniques to expand their findings on the engram cell ensemble. Notably, Tonegawa has uncovered the role of memory engram cell ensembles in memory valence, [ 7 ] social memory, as well as their role in brain disorders such as depression, [ 8 ] amnesia, [ 9 ] and Alzheimer's disease.

These works provide proofs of concept for future medical treatments in humans through the manipulation of memory engram ensembles. Tonegawa is a fan of the Boston Red Sox, and threw out an opening pitch during their World Series championship season. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version.

In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. Japanese scientist born Nagoya, Japan. Masaki Hayashi Renato Dulbecco [ citation needed ]. Early life and education [ edit ]. Career [ edit ]. Research [ edit ]. Immunology [ edit ]. Neuroscience [ edit ]. Personal life [ edit ]. Selected awards and honors [ edit ]. Selected publications [ edit ].

See also [ edit ]. References [ edit ]. The Boston Globe.

Susumu tonegawa biography template

Renowned for his discovery of the genetic mechanism that produces antibody diversity, his work elucidated the genetic mechanism of the adaptive immune system. A molecular biologist by training, he changed fields and ventured into immunology studies before again changing fields to neuroscience. Born in Nagoya as the son of an engineer, he grew up in rural towns, enjoying the space and freedom of the countryside.

He was sent to a high school in Tokyo where he developed an interest in science. He eventually moved to the University of California in the United States to pursue his doctorate. From there he went to the Basel Institute for Immunology in Switzerland where he performed pioneering work in immunology, and discovered the genetic mechanism that produces antibody diversity.

For this seminal work he was honored with several prestigious awards including the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize and the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. He devoted the later years of his career to research in neuroscience, examining the molecular, cellular and neuronal basis of memory formation and retrieval. James Watson is an American molecular biologist and geneticist who played a crucial role in the discovery of the molecular structure of D.

Francis Crick was an English molecular biologist, biophysicist and neuroscientist, who received the Nobel Prize for Medicine. This biography profiles his childhood, life, career, achievements and timeline. Susumu Tonegawa was born in Nagoya, Japan, on 6 Septemberas one of the four children in his family. His father was an engineer working for a textile company and his job required him to move the family to new locations every few years.

The children had an enjoyable childhood, living in different small towns in the countryside. His parents were particular that the children get a good education. After graduating from Kyoto University in he moved to the Unites States as Japan presented limited scope for the study of molecular biology. Masaki Hayashi. He received his Ph. Following the completion of his doctorate, he remained in Professor Hayashi's laboratory as a postdoctoral fellow working on the morphogenesis of a phage until He then moved to the Salk Institute in San Diego in the laboratory of Renato Dulbecco to continue his postdoctoral work.