Donald Maclyn McCarty
- Born:
- June 9, 1912, South Bend, Indiana, USA
- Died:
- January 2, 2005, New York City, New York, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Physician, Bacteriologist, Geneticist
Early Life and Education
- Received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University in 1933.
- Earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1937.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked with Oswald Avery and Colin MacLeod at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.
- Co-authored the landmark 1944 paper demonstrating that DNA, not protein, is the carrier of genetic information. This paper, detailing the Avery–MacLeod–McCarty experiment, revolutionized biology.
- Served as Physician-in-Chief at the Rockefeller University Hospital from 1960 to 1974.
- Vice President of the Rockefeller University from 1965 to 1978.
- Member of the National Academy of Sciences.
Notable Works
- 1944 paper in the Journal of Experimental Medicine with Avery and MacLeod: "Studies on the Chemical Nature of the Substance Inducing Transformation of Pneumococcal Types: Induction of Transformation by a Desoxyribonucleic Acid Fraction Isolated from Pneumococcus Type III."
Awards and Honors
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research | 1945 |
| Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize | 1967 |
| Gairdner Foundation International Award | 1977 |
| Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize | 1989 |
Legacy and Impact
Donald Maclyn McCarty's contribution to identifying DNA as the carrier of genetic information fundamentally reshaped the field of biology. His work paved the way for advancements in genetics, molecular biology, and medicine.
Maclyn McCarty Biography of Donald
This document is a brief Maclyn McCarty biography of Donald, focusing on the key events and achievements in his life.