Seymour Benzer

Author: Leandro Alegsa Creation date: November 14, 2022

Seymour Benzer (October 15, 1921 – November 30, 2007) was an American physicist, biologist and geneticist. He was of Jewish descent.

His career began during the molecular biology revolution of the 1950s, and he eventually rose to prominence in the fields of molecular and behavioral genetics. He led a genetics research lab at Purdue University and at the California Institute of Technology.

Benzer made fundamental discoveries in two quite different fields of genetics. He got his PhD in solid-state physics, but soon switched to genetics after he read Erwin Schrödinger's book What is Life?

Questions and Answers

Q: Who was Seymour Benzer?

A: Seymour Benzer was an American physicist, biologist, and geneticist of Jewish descent.

Q: When did Seymour Benzer's career begin?

A: Seymour Benzer's career began during the molecular biology revolution of the 1950s.

Q: In which two fields of genetics did Seymour Benzer make fundamental discoveries?

A: Seymour Benzer made fundamental discoveries in two quite different fields of genetics.

Q: Which book did Seymour Benzer read that led him to switch from solid-state physics to genetics?

A: Seymour Benzer read Erwin Schrödinger's book What is Life? that led him to switch from solid-state physics to genetics.

Q: Where did Seymour Benzer lead a genetics research lab?

A: Seymour Benzer led a genetics research lab at Purdue University and at the California Institute of Technology.

Q: What was Seymour Benzer prominent in?

A: Seymour Benzer was prominent in the fields of molecular and behavioral genetics.

Q: When was Seymour Benzer born and when did he die?

A: Seymour Benzer was born on October 15, 1921, and he died on November 30, 2007.