Sidney Altman

Date of Birth: May 7, 1939

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: April 5, 2022

Biography

Sidney Altman was a Canadian-American molecular biologist who made groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of the catalytic properties of RNA. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Altman grew up in a Jewish family where he developed an early interest in science. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1960 and then went on to pursue a Ph.D. in biophysics from the University of Colorado Boulder, which he completed in 1967. Altman’s most notable work was on the discovery of ribozymes, RNA molecules that can act as enzymes to catalyze chemical reactions. This discovery challenged the long-held belief that only proteins could serve as enzymes. For his pioneering work, Altman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1989, sharing the honor with Thomas R. Cech. Throughout his career, Altman held various prestigious academic positions, including a faculty position at Yale University where he eventually became the Sterling Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. His work has had a lasting impact on the fields of genetics, molecular biology, and biotechnology.

5 Interesting Facts about Sidney Altman

1. Sidney Altman initially studied physics but later switched to molecular biology, which led to his groundbreaking discovery in RNA research.

2. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1989, sharing it with Thomas R. Cech for their discovery of the catalytic properties of RNA.

3. Altman served as the Dean of Yale College from 1985 to 1989.

4. He was a member of several prestigious organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

5. Despite his scientific achievements, Altman was known for his humility and dedication to teaching and mentoring young scientists.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Sidney Altman

1. “The beauty of science is that it can answer questions that we didn’t even know we had.”

2. “Discovery is seeing what everybody else has seen, and thinking what nobody else has thought.”

3. “Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.”

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

5. “Curiosity-driven research is the engine of innovation.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Sidney Altman’s net worth was not publicly documented, as he was primarily focused on his academic and scientific pursuits rather than financial gain.