Renato Dulbecco…ring any bells?
If you say “yes” then I bow to your knowledge of the science of cancer, but I’m guessing you’re going to the “Google” search engine right about now to see who Dulbecco was. I say was, because he just passed-away, four days shy of his 98Th birthday. But did he leave a big footprint before he left us. He changed medicine by exploring the genetic footprint and shared the Nobel Prize in 1975 for providing crucial early discoveries in the genetic nature of cancer.
Dulbecco opened the door to scientists everywhere and showed them the path to unlocking cancer’s mysteries.
Many feel that one of his greatest contributions, post-Nobel, was a paper he wrote in 1986 for the journal Science, where he advocated the complete sequencing of the human genome. Talk about forward thinking and to add a punctuation mark to that idea, was the thought that unraveling the human genome would be a key to understanding what makes cancer…cancer.
In simple words, this man was genius and whether he knew it or not, touched all of us who live in cancer world.
He spent his life looking for answers inside all those elusive cancer cells. He had a huge impact on cancer and genetic research, and his work will live on.
When he retired from the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, at 92, he said he would spend his days performing opera. Dr. Dulbecco was a classically trained pianist.
He was a hero too.
March 1, 2012 @ 3:59 am
I just required some information and was searching on Google for it. I visited each page that came on first page and didn’t got any relevant result then I thought to check out the second one and got your blog. This is what I wanted!
February 22, 2012 @ 7:14 pm
I had not ever heard of him before your post. I salute him for his foresight and wisdom. May he rest in peace. Another pioneer to give Thanks to. Small pieces and visions of genius that contribute to this puzzle wrapped in an enigma that will eventually solve the cancer problem. It has taken us years to get here…..think of the lives lost and many more yet to come until that grand and glorious day when the Aha moment becomes our or our kids or our grandkids reality. What a great day that will be. Thank you Dr. Dulbecco.