Esther Lederberg

Esther Lederberg is a name that, while most of us may not be familiar with, is undoubtedly known to everyone who works in the microbiology industry. The understanding of viruses and bacteria has changed as a result of her work in genetics and cellular biology, and many of the lab techniques she established are still in use today.

The most significant achievement of all of her contributions to biology—and there are far too many to list—was the discovery of the lambda phage in 1951, a class of parasitic virus that attacks bacteria. Prior to that, phages were solely recognized as dangerous parasites that destroy bacteria, but the Lambda phage had the ability to embed itself in its host's DNA and remain there indefinitely without harming the host.

The lambda phage has subsequently been used as a model to comprehend viruses and bacteria. It was a crucial discovery. Esther Lederberg laid the foundation for contemporary molecular biology, opening the door for other disciplines like genetic engineering, despite frequently being overlooked by her husband Joshua Lederberg, a brilliant scientist in his own right.

Born: Esther Miriam Zimmer, December 18, 1922Bronx, New York, U.S.
Died: November 11, 2006 (aged 83)Stanford, California, U.S.

Known for: Lambda phage, specialized transduction, replica plating, fertility factor F, Plasmid Reference Center