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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

HALDANE J.B.S.

HALDANE J.B.S.
(1892 - 1964 )

Haldane was an English born Indian biologist. He was born on November 5, 1892 at oxford. Even as a child he was different from other children. When he was a two year old he was immitating the faces of various dogs. He was experimenting upon himself. His father was a noted physiologist. He helped his father in experiments. He learnt many languages and read books on various subjects. He was sharp in mathematics which brought him Russell prize at 16. He was taught at Cambridge and at university college in London. He did reaserch in Biochemistry. In 1925 he showed interest in genetics and elected the fellow of Royal Society in 1932. He was made professor of Genetics in University college, London.

He decided to emigrate to India in 1957 and got citizenship in 1961. He didn’t go back to England. He made contributions to several diverse subjects such as medicine, evolution, physiology, genetics, biochemistry, mathematics and cosmology. He estimated the rate of mutation of a human gene. He said that mutation, the sudden change in a gene occurs once for every 50,000 people per generation. He wrote two books titled ‘Enzymes’ (1930) and ‘The causes of Evolution’ (1932). They are scientific classics. His discoveries in biochemistry have been known as laws of enzyme chemistry.

He did research in physiology also. He found how chemicals, CO2 gas, ice cold temperature affect breath. He discovered cure for tetanus and convulsions. His book ‘My friend Mr.Losakey’ is specially written for children.

While in India, he was inspired by Hindu philosophy and the principle of nonviolence. He liked to wear dhoti and kurta. He was appointed a professor at the Indian statistical institute, Kolkata. He was director, Genetics and Biometry laboratory, Bhuvaneshwar. He died of cancer at Bhuvaneshwar at the age of 71. Even at his death bed he was cheerful and wrote a poem ‘Cancer’s a Funny Thing’. He had made research on colour blindness and haemophilia.

John burdon Sanderson Haldane, Popularised science during his life time. He was also a social worker.

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