Scientist’s Name: Dr.
Barbara McClintock
Cultural and Educational Background
Dr. Barbara McClintock, born on June 16, 1902, in Hartford, Connecticut, USA, came
from a family that valued education. Her parents, her father being an army doctor and her
mother a school teacher fostered her innovation in science and natural world. She was a
brilliant student, earning her degree at Cornell University in agricultural science in 1923 and
her Ph.D in botany in 1927(The Nobel Prize, 2018). At Cornell, she met genetics, a relatively
young science at the time, and it did not take her long to set herself apart with her research.
Although she worked in a man dominated profession, she was tenacious and brilliant to
transform the field of biology.
Area of Research
Dr. McClintock worked in the area of genetics, specialising in crop genetics of maize.
She researched how genes work and sculpt traits making her a pioneer of molecular genetics.
Her groundbreaking discovery of transposable elements, or “jumping genes,” demonstrated
that genes are not fixed but can move within the genome, influencing gene expression and
phenotypic traits (McClintock, 1950a). This was the starting point of molecular genetics with
helpful information about genetic regulation and mutation.
Models Used
Maize (corn) was the organism of choice for McClintock’s experiments. She used
technical cytology to study maize chromosomes and genetic loci in considerable detail in the
1930s. She also noted that some of the genes can translocate from one chromosome to
another and this lead to variation in the physical appearance of the plants (McClintock,
1950b). This was really shocking and supported the notion that genes cannot be fixed and are
not something just pre ordained.
Research Results
Transposition experiment exhibited by McClintock showed that genetic factors can be
shifted within chromosomes and in turn affected gene actions and phenotypic variations
occurred. These genetic mechanisms are described in her 1950 paper, “The Origin and
Behavior of Mutable Loci in Maize”. Her work showed that genes are not set and fixed as the
populists geneticists believed at that time.
Advancements in Biology
Dr. McClintock’s discoveries led to some changes in thinking and strategies to deal
with genotype issues in genetics by allowing an appreciation of gene action and control. Her
studies of transposable elements have produced drastic impact to molecular biology, genetic
engineering and evolutionary biology. It paved the way for exploring genetic mutations,
regulation, and adaptation, influencing numerous scientific fields.
Relevance to Society
The subject of McClintock’s research is significant for society in general. Her
findings help in creating the agricultural crops beneficial features such as disease resistance,
drought tolerance and nutritional value, which is important in food security. In medicine, her
knowledge of regulation of genes is used to understand genetic disorders and gene therapy
approaches (Lander & Weinberg, 2000). Furthermore, her work is essential to environmental
science to help save species and study the genetic background of species’ adaptation to
environmental shifts.
Recognition and Legacy
In the early years of her career Dr. McClintock was not given her due; but later in her
career she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1983 for discovering
the idea of mobile genetic elements (Nobel Prize, 1983). She is still a perfect example of how
generations of scientists especially women should be and emphasizes the importance of
diversity in science.
Conclusion
Dr. Barbara McClintock is the discoverer of the transposable elements which enriched
the concept of genetics and influenced agriculture, medical science and evolutionary biology.
Her accomplishments are signifying curiosity and determination, which encouraged
generations of scientists, and reminded everyone of the importance of diversity and
hardworking spirit, which pave the way for development of science.
References
McClintock, B. (1950a). The source and the characteristics of mutable loci in Zea Mays.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 36(6), 344-355. https:>DOI:
10.1073/pnas.36.6.344
McClintock, B. (1950b). The origin and behavior of mutable loci in maize. Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences, 36(6), 344-355.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.36.6.344
McClintock, B. (1984). The significance of responses of the genome to challenge. Science,
226(4675), 792-801. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.226.4675.792
The Nobel Prize. (1983). The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1983. Retrieved from
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1983/mcclintock/facts/
The Nobel Prize. (2018). The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1983. NobelPrize.org.
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1983/mcclintock/facts/
Lander, E. S., & Weinberg, R. A. (2000). Genomics: Journey to the center of biology.
Science, 287(5461), 1916-1920. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.287.5461.1916
Zohary, D., & Hopf, M. (2000). Domestication of plants in the Old World (3rd ed.). Oxford
University Press.
