Person Crick; Francis Harry Compton (1916 - 2004) Crick Francis Harry Compton 1916 - 2004 British Male Northampton, England 08/06/1916 19160608 San Diego, California 29/07/2004 20040729

Biology Education: Northampton Grammar School and Mill Hill School, London; BSc (Physics) from University College London (1937) Career: Began research for a PhD under A N da C Andrade (1937), but interrupted by outbreak of war in 1939. During the war he worked as a scientist for the Admiralty Research Establishment, mainly in connection with magnetic and acoustic mines. After the war was given a job in scientific intelligence by the Admiralty. In 1947 he went to study Biology and with a studentship from the Medical Research Council worked at the Strangeways Research Laboratory in Cambridge (1947). Staff, MRC Unit for Molecular Biology/Laboratory of Molecular Biology (1949-1977), joined the MRC Unit headed by Max Perutz in the Cavendish Laboratory in 1950, and again became a research student obtaining a PhD (1954) with a thesis 'X-ray diffraction; polypeptides and proteins'. With W Cochran and V Vand he worked out the general theory of X-ray diffraction by a helix. After Watson joined the MRC Unit in 1952 he worked with him culminating in 1953 with their joint proposal of a double helical structure for DNA and the replication scheme. Before Watson's return to America they collaborated on work on the structure of small viruses. From 1955 he collaborated with Sydney Brenner on work concentrated more on biochemistry and genetics leading to ideas about protein synthesis and the genetic code. Fellow, Churchill College, Cambridge (1960-1961). Became Head of the Division of Molecular Genetics (renamed Division of Cell Biology in 1969) in 1962 when the Unit moved to a new building, and joint Head with Sydney Brenner in 1963. Non resident Fellow, Salk Institute for Biological Studies (1962-1973), Ferkhauf Foundation Visiting Professor (1962-1977), moved to the Salk Institute in California (1975) where his main interest was neurosciences, J W Kieckhefer Distinguished Professor (1977-2004), President (1994-1995). Also Professor of biology, chemistry and psychology at the University of California, San Diego. Not afraid to embrace controversial theories, being a leading proponent of the theory of panspermia, which suggests life originated in space. Also believed global warming posed a serious threat for the world, and turned to neuroscience in order to provide answers to questions more usually thought of as religious. Medals and prizes: Nobel Prize (Physiology or Medicine) 1962 Honours: OM 1991 Married (1940) Ruth Doreen Dodd (marriage dissolved 1947); married Odile Speed (1949) Medals and prizes: Royal Medal 1972; Copley Medal 1975 Lectures: Croonian 1966 Fellow 19/03/1959 42 Souces: Obituaries in The Guardian (30/07/2004); Daily Telegraph (30/07/2004); The Times (30/07/2004); The Financial Times (30/07/2004), The Independent (03/08/2004) References: Francis Crick's scientific archive purchased by Wellcome Trust in 2001 with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund. Catalogue available and on Wellcome website. Includes correspondence, reaearch notes and other material, including material relating to Crick's work in molecular biology and in particular his eleucidation, with James Watson, of the structure of DNA. Digitized material available at http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/SC/ John Postgate, review of Francis Crick, What Mad Pursuit: A Personal View of Scientific Discovery in NR 1991 vol 45 pp 284-286 R Holliday, 'The early years of molecular biology: personal recollections' in NR 2003 vol 57 pp 195-208 Anne Cooke, 'Shedding light on the enigmatic Rosalind Franklin. Rosalind Franklin - the dark lady of DNA, by B Maddox' in NR 2003 vol 57 pp 239-243 F Lambert, 'News of the Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award' in NR 2003 vol 57 pp 265-266 R A Crowther, 'Viruses and the development of quantitative biological electron microscopy' in NR 2004 vol 58 pp 65-81 Chris Beckett "For the medical record: the Francis Crick archive at the Wellcome Library", Medical History, 2004, 48: pp 245-260 International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 What Mad Pursuit; The Astonishing Hypothesis; 8 Jun 1916 - NA6822 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 28/03/2023 RS_NET\JonathanB Yes 832faca8-3e5d-4857-a022-8cb46cf12a92