Sir Martin J. Evans

Facts

Sir Martin J. Evans

© The Nobel Foundation. Photo: U. Montan

Sir Martin J. Evans
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2007

Born: 1 January 1941, Stroud, United Kingdom

Affiliation at the time of the award: Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom

Prize motivation: “for their discoveries of principles for introducing specific gene modifications in mice by the use of embryonic stem cells”

Prize share: 1/3

Work

DNA carries organisms' genomes and also determines their vital processes. The ability to artificially alter DNA opens the way to both new scientific understanding and new treatment methods for various illnesses. In 1981 Evans managed to cultivate what are referred to as embryonic stem cells from mice. This achievement opened the way to producing living mice with modified genomes. This advancement allowed Mario Capecchi and Oliver Smithies to breed live mice with specific genes inactivated, making it possible to elucidate these genes' functions.

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