Profile of Bruce M. Alberts, 2016 Lasker-Koshland Special Achievement Award in Medical Science Awardee

Abstract

On September 23, 2016, Bruce M. Alberts was presented with the Lasker-Koshland Special Achievement Award in Medical Science, which honored him for “fundamental discoveries in DNA replication and protein biochemistry; for visionary leadership in directing national and international scientific organizations to better people’s lives; and for passionate dedication to improving education in science and mathematics” (1). In presenting the award to Alberts, Lasker Awards Jury Chair Joseph Goldstein compared him to the renowned chef Julia Childs, citing their common “missionary spirit, boundless curiosity, endearing klutziness, and a deep desire to teach and to teach well” (1). What an inspired comparison! The only addendum I would make to that description is “brilliant biochemist and public servant extraordinaire.” Bruce Alberts in his office at UCSF, Mission Bay, October 2014. Image courtesy of Christopher Reiger (photographer). Bruce began his scientific career as a graduate student at Harvard, working with Paul Doty, where he embarked upon his lifelong quest to understand the molecular mechanism of DNA replication. Legend has it that he failed his initial doctoral thesis defense because of a stubborn conviction that DNA could be replicated by a single enzyme, DNA polymerase. After his thesis committee delivered that rude wake-up call, and 6 months of additional work, Bruce passed with flying colors. From that experience he learned that the best experiments are those that provide insight into the biological question being posed, even if the outcome is not the one he either expected or hoped for. Bruce embarked on his independent career in 1966, first at Princeton University and then at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Having abandoned the one-enzyme hypothesis, he took a cue from the genetics of bacteriophage T4, which implied that DNA replication required at least six gene products. Bruce set about developing techniques to isolate and … [↵][1]1Email: smt{at}princeton.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1