zoom_in Click to enlarge

David Baltimore

▲ ▼

description David Baltimore Overview

David Baltimore was a pioneering American biologist whose research fundamentally altered our knowledge of viruses and molecular biology. His work centered on RNA replication within retroviruses, specifically identifying an enzyme that converts RNA into DNA – a discovery critical to understanding viral mechanisms. This research earned him the 1975 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and remains foundational for scientists studying virology, genetics, and the roles of DNA and RNA. He primarily served academic institutions and those involved in biomedical research.

help David Baltimore FAQ

What enzyme did David Baltimore discover?

David Baltimore co-discovered reverse transcriptase, a vital enzyme that synthesizes DNA from an RNA template. This monumental finding contradicted the central dogma of biology, proving that genetic information could flow backward from RNA to DNA.

Why did David Baltimore win the 1975 Nobel Prize?

He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries concerning the interaction between tumor viruses and the genetic material of the cell. He shared the award with Howard Temin and Renato Dulbecco for their combined work on tumor-inducing viruses.

What was the Baltimore case in the late 1980s?

The Baltimore case was a major scientific fraud controversy involving a 1986 immunology paper co-authored by Baltimore and Thereza Imanishi-Kari. Although federal investigations initially alleged data falsification, the researchers were completely exonerated in 1996.

What prestigious university did David Baltimore serve as president?

David Baltimore served as the president of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) from 1997 until 2006. He stepped down to focus on his research at the university's biological engineering department.