John Kendrew

Date of Birth: March 24, 1917

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: August 23, 1997

Biography

Sir John Cowdery Kendrew was a distinguished British molecular biologist, noted for his groundbreaking work in the field of protein structure. Born in Oxford, England, Kendrew attended the prestigious Dragon School and later Clifton College. He went on to study chemistry at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was under the mentorship of Max Perutz. Together, they conducted pioneering research in X-ray crystallography that would eventually lead to the determination of the structure of myoglobin, a protein that stores oxygen in muscle cells. For this monumental achievement, Kendrew was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1962, alongside Perutz. He was also a founding member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and served as the Deputy Director of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge. Throughout his career, Kendrew was dedicated to advancing the field of molecular biology and was instrumental in establishing several key research institutes.

5 Interesting Facts about John Kendrew

1. John Kendrew was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1974 for his contributions to science.

2. He played a crucial role in the founding of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany.

3. Kendrew co-authored the first detailed model of a protein molecule, myoglobin.

4. He was an avid supporter of interdisciplinary research and promoted collaborations between scientists of different fields.

5. In addition to his Nobel Prize, Kendrew received numerous awards, including the Royal Medal of the Royal Society in 1965.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from John Kendrew

1. “Science is a wonderful thing if one does not have to earn one’s living at it.”

2. “The beauty of a living thing is not the atoms that go into it, but the way those atoms are put together.”

3. “The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘Eureka!’ but ‘That’s funny…’”

4. “We are here to make another world.”

5. “Understanding the molecular structure of proteins is the key to understanding all biological processes.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by John Kendrew is not publicly documented, but as a prominent scientist, his contributions were more academic and scientific rather than financial.