Francis Joseph Ryan

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Francis Joseph Ryan , in the scientific literature Francis J. Ryan , (* 1916 in New York ; † July 14, 1963 ibid) was an American geneticist and zoologist .

life and work

Francis J. Ryan grew up in Long Island, which was still rural at the time . Here he discovered his interest and love for nature. He studied zoology at Columbia College . He completed this with a thesis in the field of developmental biology. In 1941 he received his doctorate here.

He received a research fellowship and an appointment in vertebrate zoology at Columbia University's Faculty of Biology because of the retirement of the previous position holder. From 1941 he carried out postdoctoral studies with Douglas Whitaker at Stanford University . At this time he came into contact with George Wells Beadle and Edward Lawrie Tatum at Stanford, doing fascinating studies on biochemical mutations in Neurospora . Ryan was included in these studies in addition to his embryological work. The generated biochemical neurospora mutants opened up numerous new research fields within a very short time.

In 1942 Ryan returned to Columbia University with a new research topic in microbial genetics . His initial research interests in Neurospora were u. a. Growth characteristics of mutants or parental genetic loads that led him to study the core behavior of heterokaryotic neurospora systems. Ryan's research interest shifted increasingly to the nature of the mutation itself. He therefore switched to bacteria as research objects. Ryan's research on mutations of the histidine - Locus and Fitterer the evolution bacterial strains are classic.

In the field of teaching, he remained loyal to vertebrate zoology mainly in university basic courses. With his very extensive knowledge, his great patience and his great love of biology, he developed into a highly respected university teacher. In the field of pre- and post-doctoral training, he led studies on microbial genetics. His best-known student was the young Joshua Lederberg , who from 1942 researched for two years together with Ryan on heterokaryotic systems of Neurospora . For his Ph.D. sent Ryan Lederberg, who had taken an interest in the phenomenon of bacterial recombination, to see Edward Tatum at Yale University . A German Ryan student was the Frankfurt microbiologist Reinhard Walter Kaplan .

Ryan was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1960.

Ryan's research on mutation and replication at the molecular level was at a promising level when he died suddenly and unexpectedly in July 1963.

swell

  • Francis J. Ryan (1916-1963). In: Neurospora Newsletter (fgsc.net). Fungal Genetics Stock Center (Kansas State University), archived from the original ; accessed on May 16, 2020 (English).

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Francis J. Ryan (1916-1963). In: Neurospora Newsletter (fgsc.net).
  2. ↑ a b c d section after: Francis J. Ryan (1916–1963). In: Neurospora Newsletter (fgsc.net).
  3. ↑ Book of Members 1780 – present, Chapter R. (PDF; 508 kB) In: American Academy of Arts and Sciences (amacad.org). Retrieved May 18, 2020 .
personal data
SURNAME Ryan, Francis Joseph
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Ryan, Francis J.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American geneticist and zoologist
DATE OF BIRTH 1916
PLACE OF BIRTH new York
DATE OF DEATH July 14, 1963
Place of death new York