Maxine Singer is known for her contributions in deciphering the
human genetic code, as well as her advocacy for the proper usage of recombinant
DNA.
Maxine Singer was born on February 15, 1931 in New York City. She
attended high school in Brooklyn, where her
chemistry teacher inspired her to pursue a career in science. Upon graduation,
Singer attended Swarthmore
College, where she
initially majored in chemistry but then switched to biology. Although few women
were accepted as scientists in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Maxine Singer recalled
that she and her friends were treated equals at Swarthmore. She graduated with
high honors in 1952.
Researching Nucleic
Acids
Maxine Singer then studied at Yale University,
where she earned a Ph.D. in 1957. During her time at Yale, she researched
protein chemistry under Joseph Fruton, a biochemist who encouraged her to
specialize in nucleic acids. According to Fruton, this field was the future of
biochemistry.
With assistance from one of her professors, Singer served as
a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1956. During
her time at NIH, Singer's work on RNA synthesis allowed her to produce
synthetic nucleotides that were used previously in Marshall Nirenberg's
experiments, studies that established the triplet nature of genetic code. Two
years later, Maxine Singer received a research staff appointment to work on
enzymes and cellular biochemistry.
Public Advocacy
When a discussion of ethics and safety concerning the
manipulation of genetic material surfaced in 1973, Singer helped the NIH form
guidelines for conducting such research. She also worked to clarify potential
benefits, while cautioning against using recombinant gene technology in terms
that laymen could understand. Maxine Singer knew that recombinant DNA technology
would add insights to the study of diseases and the understanding of incurable
illnesses, but she also understood that genetic engineering raised moral issues.
Because of her attention to these moral issues, Maxine
Singer became a chairperson for the 1973 Gordon Conference on Nucleic Acids,
where public health risks were discussed. In 1974, she became Chief of the
NIH's section of Nucleic Acid Enyzymology, Division of Cancer Biology and
Diagnosis at the National Cancer Institute (DCBD).
Singer also helped organize the 1975 Asilomar Conference on
Recombinant DNA, which resulted in guidelines for dealing with the unknown
risks of the technology.
From Carnegie
Institution to National Cancer Institute
In 1980, Maxine Singer became chief of the DCBD's Laboratory
of Biochemistry. In 1988, she became president of the Carnegie Institution in Washington,
D.C. She held this latter position
until 2002.
Maxine Singer has spent her career working as a scientist
and public advocate. She continues to conduct genetics research for the
National Cancer Institute as a scientist emeritus.
She has also been involved in programs to improve the quality of science
education for disadvantaged children.
Singer also continues to speak out about issues related to
genetic manipulation. She has publicly supported the United States' investment in the
human genome project.
Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxine_Singer
http://science.howstuffworks.com/american-biologists/maxine-singer-info.htm
https://www.chemheritage.org/women_chemistry/body/singer.html
http://www.carnegieinstitution.org/singer/
| 
