| RefNo | EC/1969/30 |
| Previous numbers | Cert XVIII, 141 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Watkins, Winifred May: certificate of election to the Royal Society |
| Description | Citation typed |
| Citation | Distinguished for the important part she has played in investigations that have enlarged understanding of the immunochemical and genetic aspects of the human blood groups. Her original contributions to our knowledge of the chemical structure of the human blood group substances, with especial reference to their immunochemical specificities, led her in 1958 to formulate a scheme for the biosynthetic pathways for the formation of the blood group specific substances within the ABO and Lewis systems. The scheme was based on the genetic, serological and chemical information then available. She has since confirmed many of the implications inherent in the scheme by sequential enzymic degradation of the specific substances. This work led to the recognition that more than one genetic locus is involved in the formation of blood group characters and the scheme is proving to be a model for others in the formulation and testing of the genetic and biosynthetic pathways of other blood group systems. Her work has been marked by originality throughout and by a logical and scientic approach to an understanding of the molecular basis of human blood group specificity. |
| AccessStatus | Open |
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Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA5248 | Watkins; Winifred May (1924 - 2003); biochemist | 1924 - 2003 |