Famous Geneticists - List of Famous Geneticists

Geneticists study genes, heredity, and hereditary transmission. They conduct research on inheritance of genes and how certain characteristics are passed on from one generation to another. They study the origin and transmission of specific inherited traits such as colour of eyes, colour and texture of hair, height, diseases resistance, hereditary diseases, etc. Geneticists need to posses a solid background in sciences like biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. Their work has application in a variety of fields like academics, medicine, research, agriculture, crime, and industries. Geneticists working in the medical field diagnose hereditary conditions in patients and help them in disease management. They calculate the genetic risk of faulty genes being passed on to potential offsprings, study congenital malformations and conduct mutation analysis. Genetic counselors provide information and advice to families that struggle with hereditary diseases. Agricultural geneticists help in the development of newer varieties of crops that have certain desired characteristics like bigger size of fruits, more nutritive value, seedless fruits, etc. and are more disease resistant than traditional crops. Genetics also has applications in the field of research and development, and university teaching. Read on to discover the life and works of famous geneticists from all over the world through a splendid collection of biographies, timelines and trivia.

The Most Famous Geneticists

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
Norman BorlaugMarch 25, 1914AmericanNorman Borlaug was an American biologist known as the “Father of the Green Revolution”
George Wells BeadleOctober 22, 1903AmericanGeorge Wells Beadle was an American geneticist who won the 1958 Nobel Prize in Medicine
Gregor MendelJuly 22, 1822AustrianGregor Mendel was an Austrian scientist and monk credited with being the father of modern genetics for his pioneering work in the study of heredity
James WatsonApril 6, 1928AmericanJames Watson is an American molecular biologist and geneticist who played a crucial role in the discovery of the molecular structure of D.N.A
Christiane Nüsslein-VolhardOctober 20, 1942GermanChristiane Nusslein-Volhard is a famous Nobel Prize winning German biologist who studied genetic control of embryonic development in drosophila
Harold E. VarmusDecember 18, 1939AmericanHarold E
Thomas Hunt MorganSeptember 25, 1866AmericanThomas Hunt Morgan was a Nobel Prize winning American evolutionary biologist, geneticist and embryologist
M. S. SwaminathanAugust 7, 1925IndianDr
Barbara McClintockJune 16, 1902AmericanBarbara McClintock was a renowned American scientist who was awarded the Nobel Prize for her pioneering research on genetic transposition
Joshua LederbergMay 23, 1925AmericanJoshua Lederberg was an American geneticist who won the 1958 Nobel Prize in Medicine
Philip Allen Sharp

Philip Allen Sharp

Philip Allen Sharp is an American geneticist and molecular biologist who co-discovered RNA splicing

AmericanJune 6, 1944136 views

Edward B. Lewis

Edward Butts Lewis was an eminent scientist, known for his work on genetics of the common fruit fly

AmericanMay 20, 1918101 views

George D. Snell

George David Snell was an American geneticist who was the joint recipient of the 1980 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

AmericanDecember 19, 1903118 views

Michael S. Brown

Michael S

AmericanApril 13, 194185 views

Baruch Samuel Blumberg

Baruch Samuel Blumberg was a Jewish-American physician and geneticist who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1976

AmericanJuly 28, 1925120 views

Howard Martin Temin

Howard Martin Temin was an American geneticist and virologist who won a share of the 1975 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

AmericanDecember 10, 1934115 views

Werner Arber

Werner Arber is a Swiss microbiologist and a geneticist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1978

SwissJune 3, 1929113 views