Chester H. Werkman and Merton F. Utter: Using Bacteria Juice and 13C to Explore Carbon Dioxide Fixation

Nicole Kresge,Robert D Simoni,Robert L Hill

doi:10.1016/s0021-9258(20)69340-1

Abstract

Chester H. Werkman and Merton F. Utter: Using Bacteria Juice and 13C to Explore Carbon Dioxide Fixation

Highlights

Chester Hamlin Werkman (1893–1962) was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Upon returning to Iowa State, Werkman’s research interests underwent a slow evolution. He continued to publish papers related to his thesis work on immunology and vitamins, but soon he developed an interest in food microbiology and the role of vitamins as growth factors for bacteria
During the early 1930s, the Iowa State agricultural experimental station started investigating the use of bacterial fermentation to dispose of farm waste, and Werkman became involved in this effort

Summary

Introduction

Chester Hamlin Werkman (1893–1962) was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. His career in science began at Iowa State University in 1920 when he became a graduate student under Robert E. Soon Werkman became interested in investigating the intermediate mechanisms of these fermentations and embarked on what would become a lifelong study of reaction intermediates in bacteria. Werkman and Wood established the existence of heterotrophic carbon dioxide fixation (the concept that all organisms, not just plants or specialized bacteria, can utilize CO2), which could be summarized by the “Wood Werkman reaction.”

Results

Conclusion