Biography
Thomas Robert Cech, born December 8, 1947, in Chicago, is an American biochemist known for his groundbreaking work on RNA. He shared the 1989 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Sidney Altman for discovering that RNA molecules can act as catalysts, challenging the belief that only proteins could do this. This discovery changed how scientists understood early life evolution and how cells function.
Cech's key work involved ribozymes—RNA molecules that can catalyze chemical reactions. He showed that RNA could self-splice without proteins, suggesting RNA may have been the original genetic material that led to life on Earth. This supported the "RNA World" hypothesis, which suggests RNA came before DNA and proteins in evolution.
Aside from his Nobel-winning work, Cech made major contributions to the study of telomeres, the DNA-protein structures at chromosome ends. His lab discovered telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), a crucial part of telomerase that helps maintain chromosome stability by extending telomeres after cells divide. This research is significant for understanding aging, cancer, and how cells avoid death.
Cech was president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute from 2000 to 2008, where he supported science education and funding for research. He has also been dedicated to teaching, continuing to offer chemistry courses to undergraduates at the University of Colorado. His teaching approach stresses hands-on learning and making science accessible to students at all levels.
Before Fame
Cech's journey to becoming a prominent scientist began with his undergraduate studies at Grinnell College, where he first became interested in chemistry and research. He went on to do his graduate work at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Ph.D. in chemistry in 1975. During this time, he studied the mechanisms of DNA replication and RNA processing, which would later lead to his Nobel Prize-winning discoveries.
The 1970s and 1980s were an exciting time for molecular biology, as new techniques allowed scientists to study genetic material in greater detail than ever before. Cech entered the field when the central idea of molecular biology—that DNA makes RNA, which then makes protein—was widely accepted as true. His readiness to challenge established ideas and explore surprising experimental results helped him make discoveries that would change the field.
Key Achievements
- Discovery of ribozymes and RNA's catalytic properties, earning the 1989 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- Identification of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) enzyme crucial for chromosome maintenance
- Served as president of Howard Hughes Medical Institute, promoting science education and research funding
- Advanced the RNA World hypothesis through experimental evidence of RNA's self-catalytic abilities
- Received multiple prestigious awards including the National Medal of Science and Albert Lasker Award
Did You Know?
- 01.Cech's discovery of ribozymes was initially met with skepticism from the scientific community because it contradicted established dogma about enzyme function
- 02.He continues to teach undergraduate general chemistry courses despite his numerous administrative and research responsibilities
- 03.His research on telomeres contributed to understanding why cancer cells can divide indefinitely while normal cells cannot
- 04.Cech played a key role in establishing the RNA Society, an international organization dedicated to RNA research
- 05.He has authored over 400 scientific publications and holds multiple patents related to his research discoveries
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Chemistry | 1989 | for their discovery of catalytic properties of RNA |
| Guggenheim Fellowship | 1985 | — |
| Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research | 1988 | — |
| Canada Gairdner International Award | 1988 | — |
| Pfizer Award in Enzyme Chemistry | 1985 | — |
| National Medal of Science | 1995 | — |
| Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize | 1988 | — |
| Dr H.P. Heineken Prize for Biochemistry and Biophysics | 1988 | — |
| Rosenstiel Award | 1988 | — |
| NAS Award in Molecular Biology | 1987 | — |
| Fellow of the AACR Academy | 2016 | — |
| honorary doctor of Harvard University | 2010 | — |
| Othmer Gold Medal | 2007 | — |
| Newcomb Cleveland Prize | 1986 | — |
| Distinguished Eagle Scout Award | — | — |