SACRED LEGACY ARCHIVES™

Joshua Lederberg

1925-05-23 – 2008-02-02

Joshua LederbergCredit: http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/BB/B/B/Q/C/

Life & Legacy

Joshua Lederberg (May 23, 1925 – February 2, 2008) was an American molecular biologist known for his work in microbial genetics, artificial intelligence, and the United States space program. He was 33 years old when he won the 1958 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering that bacteria can mate and exchange genes (bacterial conjugation); work that was conducted alongside his wife Esther, who was uncredited for her contributions. He shared the prize with Edward Tatum and George Beadle, who won for their work with genetics.
In addition to his contributions to biology, Lederberg did extensive research in artificial intelligence. This included work in the NASA experimental programs seeking life on Mars and the chemistry expert system Dendral.

Occupation & Career

geneticist, molecular biologist, university teacher, computer scientist, artificial intelligence researcher, physician, zoologist, microbiologist

Education

Columbia University; Yale University; Stuyvesant High School; University of Wisconsin–Madison

Accomplishments, Inventions & Publications

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; Presidential Medal of Freedom; William Procter Prize for Scientific Achievement; National Medal of Science; Maxwell Finland Award; ACM-AAAI Allen Newell Award; ACM Fellow; Foreign Member of the Royal Society; Wilbur Cross Medal

Legacy Highlights

Honors & Awards

ACM Fellow · ACM-AAAI Allen Newell Award · Foreign Member of the Royal Society · Maxwell Finland Award · National Medal of Science · Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine · Presidential Medal of Freedom · Wilbur Cross Medal · William Procter Prize for Scientific Achievement

Employer

Stanford University · The Rockefeller University · University of Wisconsin–Madison

Organizations & Memberships

American Academy of Arts and Sciences · American Association for the Advancement of Science · American Philosophical Society · Association for Computing Machinery · National Academy of Sciences · Pontifical Academy of Sciences · Royal Society of London