Biography of Har Gobind Khorana
Hargobind Khorana was an Indian-American biochemist who made significant contributions to the understanding of DNA and RNA, which are the molecules that carry genetic information in living cells. He was born on January 9, 1922, in Raipur, British India (now in Pakistan), and he passed away on November 9, 2011, in Concord, Massachusetts, USA. Khorana was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1968, along with Robert W. Holley and Marshall W. Nirenberg, for their interpretation of the genetic code and its function in protein synthesis.
 |
| Biography of Har Gobind Khorana |
Early Life and Education:
Hargobind Khorana was born into a Punjabi Hindu family. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in 1943 from Punjab University in Lahore, British India (now in Pakistan). He later moved to England for his doctoral studies, where he earned his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Liverpool in 1948.
Scientific Career and Achievements of Har Gobind Khorana:
Khorana’s scientific career took him to various prestigious institutions around the world, including the University of Cambridge, University of British Columbia, and University of Wisconsin-Madison. His groundbreaking research focused on deciphering the genetic code and understanding the mechanisms of protein synthesis.
In the 1960s, Khorana and his team conducted pioneering experiments that helped decipher the genetic code. They synthesized RNA molecules with specific nucleotide sequences, demonstrating how the information in DNA is translated into proteins. This work laid the foundation for understanding how genes dictate the structure of proteins.
Nobel Prize and Later Career:
In 1968, Khorana was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his contributions to deciphering the genetic code. He shared the prize with Robert W. Holley and Marshall W. Nirenberg, both of whom also made significant contributions to the field of molecular biology.
After receiving the Nobel Prize, Khorana continued his research in molecular biology and genetics. He became a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he made further advancements in the understanding of the genetic code and protein synthesis.
Har Gobind Khorana’s Legacy:
Hargobind Khorana’s work paved the way for advancements in genetic engineering and biotechnology. His research significantly contributed to the development of techniques for synthesizing DNA, enabling scientists to manipulate genes for various purposes, including the production of important proteins and the study of genetic diseases.
Khorana’s legacy continues through the countless scientists and researchers he inspired, and his contributions to the understanding of the genetic code remain foundational in the field of molecular biology.