Sir John Gurdon and the rise of molecular developmental biology

Abstract

John B. Gurdon was one of the most beloved developmental biologists of our times, who enjoyed a long life completely immersed in science. Blessed with a very important discovery at age 25, he used his distinguished position for the common good of other biologists. John's life epitomizes the Golden Rule of Western Civilization – love your neighbor as yourself – to the great benefit of his field. As a graduate student, he demonstrated that somatic cells retained the complete gene repertoire to differentiate into all cell types. He developed the Xenopus oocyte as a living test tube for molecular biology. His microinjection studies provided the first vertebrate system to translate mRNA, transcribe DNA, and express cloned genes. He investigated the reprogramming of somatic nuclei to the gene expression pattern of oocytes for many decades. His discoveries were foundational to the use of stem cells for tissue therapies and were recognized with the 2012 Nobel prize for Medicine. He was responsible, more than any other person, for introducing Xenopus as a research organism for molecular biology. He was a wonderful mentor who taught by example and built new research institutes. His tireless support for scientific societies organized by scientists independently of governments led him to deliver incomparable lectures throughout the world, inspiring generations of developmental biologists. His secret weapon was to never stop working at the bench with his beloved oocytes and embryos. Above all, he was a good man. Sir John passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family at age 92.