Pioneer of bacterial genetics: the legacy of Esther Miriam Lederberg.

IF 5.1 3区生物学 Q2 GENETICS & HEREDITY

Genetics Pub Date : 2025-08-26 DOI:10.1093/genetics/iyaf160

Carolin C Wendling, Zachary M Bailey

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Abstract

Esther Miriam Lederberg's brilliant scientific lifework, from the discovery of phage lambda, bacterial conjugation, and replica plating, provided essential tools that have been shaping the field of bacterial genetics for decades. Fundamental principles and ideas derived from her work have influenced many significant discoveries in microbial genetics over the past 70 years. From the operon model to recombinant DNA technology, from antibiotic resistance research to the discovery of restriction enzymes, Esther's work has set the stage for groundbreaking scientific work including many Nobel Prizes. Despite her discoveries, her contributions were often overlooked, and recognition was often given to her collaborators, particularly her husband. Thus, beyond her scientific impact, her perseverance and her ability to circumvent societal conventions are among her most important legacies that have been paving the way for future generations of scientists. In this article, we honor Esther Lederberg by revisiting her scientific discoveries, exploring how they influenced our current understanding of molecular genetics, and reflecting on the broader importance of recognizing and rewarding equity in the scientific community.

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细菌遗传学的先驱：埃斯特·米利亚姆·莱德伯格的遗产。

埃斯特·米利亚姆·莱德伯格辉煌的科学生涯，从发现噬菌体λ、细菌偶联到复制电镀，提供了几十年来塑造细菌遗传学领域的基本工具。在过去的70年里，从她的工作中衍生出的基本原理和思想影响了微生物遗传学的许多重大发现。从操纵子模型到重组DNA技术，从抗生素耐药性研究到限制性内切酶的发现，Esther的工作为突破性的科学工作奠定了基础，包括许多诺贝尔奖。尽管她有很多发现，但她的贡献常常被忽视，她的合作者，尤其是她的丈夫，常常得到认可。因此，除了她的科学影响之外，她的毅力和规避社会习俗的能力是她最重要的遗产之一，这些遗产一直在为后代的科学家铺平道路。在这篇文章中，我们通过回顾Esther Lederberg的科学发现，探索它们如何影响我们目前对分子遗传学的理解，并反思在科学界认识和奖励公平的更广泛重要性，来纪念她。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Genetics GENETICS & HEREDITY-

CiteScore

6.90

自引率

6.10%

发文量

177

审稿时长

1.5 months

期刊介绍： GENETICS is published by the Genetics Society of America, a scholarly society that seeks to deepen our understanding of the living world by advancing our understanding of genetics. Since 1916, GENETICS has published high-quality, original research presenting novel findings bearing on genetics and genomics. The journal publishes empirical studies of organisms ranging from microbes to humans, as well as theoretical work. While it has an illustrious history, GENETICS has changed along with the communities it serves: it is not your mentor''s journal. The editors make decisions quickly – in around 30 days – without sacrificing the excellence and scholarship for which the journal has long been known. GENETICS is a peer reviewed, peer-edited journal, with an international reach and increasing visibility and impact. All editorial decisions are made through collaboration of at least two editors who are practicing scientists. GENETICS is constantly innovating: expanded types of content include Reviews, Commentary (current issues of interest to geneticists), Perspectives (historical), Primers (to introduce primary literature into the classroom), Toolbox Reviews, plus YeastBook, FlyBook, and WormBook (coming spring 2016). For particularly time-sensitive results, we publish Communications. As part of our mission to serve our communities, we''ve published thematic collections, including Genomic Selection, Multiparental Populations, Mouse Collaborative Cross, and the Genetics of Sex.