Arthur Kornberg
Who was Arthur Kornberg?
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1959)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Arthur Kornberg (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Arthur Kornberg (March 3, 1918 – October 26, 2007) was an American biochemist who made major strides in understanding how nucleic acids are made, earning him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1959. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and went to Abraham Lincoln High School before attending City College of New York and the University of Rochester Medical Center, where he got interested in biochemistry. His early education set the stage for a great career that changed how we understand basic biological processes.
Kornberg's key contribution was finding DNA polymerase, the enzyme that handles DNA replication. By working with bacterial extracts, he was able to create DNA in a test tube, showing for the first time how genetic material copies itself. This work, done with his team at Stanford University, not only won him the Nobel Prize but also opened new paths in genetic research and biotechnology. He shared the 1959 Nobel Prize with Severo Ochoa of New York University, who made similar discoveries about RNA synthesis.
Throughout his career, Kornberg took on teaching roles at several places before making Stanford University his primary work base. His lab was a training hub for many future leaders in biochemistry and molecular biology. Besides DNA polymerase, he studied enzyme chemistry, nucleic acids in many organisms, and the genetic controls in animals, plants, bacteria, and viruses. He focused on getting to the root of biological processes at the molecular level.
Kornberg earned many awards, including the Pfizer Award in Enzyme Chemistry in 1951, the National Medal of Science in 1979, and the Canada Gairdner International Award in 1995. He was named a Foreign Member of the Royal Society in 1970 and received honorary degrees from several universities, such as Pierre and Marie Curie University in 1981 and the University of Miami in 1997. His marriage to Sylvy Kornberg gave him personal support for his intense research. He kept working on science until late in life, passing away at Stanford in 2007, leaving a legacy that deeply impacted modern molecular biology.
Before Fame
Growing up in Brooklyn during the 1920s and 1930s, Arthur Kornberg was part of a generation that saw and contributed to incredible scientific advancements. His journey from Abraham Lincoln High School to City College of New York shows the opportunities for academically talented students in New York's education system. The economic struggles of the Great Depression led many young scholars to choose practical fields, but Kornberg's interest in life sciences came at a time when biochemistry was carving out its own identity, separate from traditional chemistry and biology.
The mid-20th century was a great period for biochemical research, with new techniques and instruments allowing scientists to explore cellular processes at the molecular level. Kornberg's education at the University of Rochester Medical Center put him at the leading edge of this scientific change, as the mix of medicine and basic research was leading to groundbreaking discoveries about fundamental life processes.
Key Achievements
- Discovery of DNA polymerase enzyme and demonstration of DNA synthesis in vitro
- Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1959) for mechanisms of nucleic acid synthesis
- Founding and leadership of Stanford University's Department of Biochemistry
- Recipient of National Medal of Science (1979) and Foreign Member of the Royal Society (1970)
- Mentorship of numerous future leaders in molecular biology and biochemistry
Did You Know?
- 01.Kornberg successfully synthesized biologically active DNA in a test tube in 1957, the first time this had been accomplished outside a living cell
- 02.He founded the Department of Biochemistry at Stanford University School of Medicine and served as its chairman for many years
- 03.His son Roger Kornberg also won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2006 for studies of RNA polymerase, making them one of the few father-son Nobel laureate pairs
- 04.Kornberg wrote several books including 'DNA Replication' and 'For the Love of Enzymes', sharing his scientific knowledge with broader audiences
- 05.He received a Guggenheim Fellowship early in his career, which allowed him to conduct research at prestigious international institutions
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | 1959 | for their discovery of the mechanisms in the biological synthesis of ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid |
| Guggenheim Fellowship | — | — |
| Pfizer Award in Enzyme Chemistry | 1951 | — |
| AMA Scientific Achievement Award | 1968 | — |
| Foreign Member of the Royal Society | 1970 | — |
| National Medal of Science | 1979 | — |
| doctor honoris causa from the Pierre and Marie Curie University | 1981 | — |
| Sir Hans Krebs Medal | 1983 | — |
| Canada Gairdner International Award | 1995 | — |
| honorary doctor of the University of Miami | 1997 | — |
Nobel Prizes
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