Stories and research by Kirstin von Glasow and illustrations by Elina Ellis
Introduction
More than 100 years of biochemistry
Rodney Porter and Raymond Dwek
The trouble with antibodies
Mary Lyon, Sohaila Rastan and Neil Brockdorff
The puzzle of the tortoiseshell cat
Alison Woollard
in an apple than you think
In putting together our previous book of centenary tales about the Biochemistry department, it soon became apparent there were so many people and so many stories that we could have covered but didn’t have space for. This new volume, still by no means an exhaustive history, is an attempt to do justice to some of those stories. Like the first book it was driven forward by the tireless enthusiasm of the current Whitley Professor of Biochemistry, Dame Amanda Fisher. In this second book, we aimed to capture a diverse set of characters, in a way that was both interesting and amusing.
Biochemistry continues to be a wonderful department which has been home to many dedicated professors, researchers, and students since its foundation over 100 years ago. Reading these stories reminds me of the rich legacy of the department, and what an honour it is to be the Head of Department. I hope you will also enjoy dipping into the stories of men and women, all united by their motivation to study and research Biochemistry, and their remarkable achievements. To those former Biochemistry students, it may rekindle your interest in Biochemistry and provide a spur to renew old acquaintances and lend us your support.
Professor Francis Barr, EP Abraham Professor of Mechanistic Cell Biology, Head of Department in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford
The stories told in More than a Century of Brilliant Biochemistry were researched and developed by Kirstin von Glasow and edited by Professor Dame Amanda Fisher with illustrations provided by Elina Ellis.
The book was designed by Richard and Sam Adams and printed by Northend Printers, Sheffield.
We would like to thank Sarah-jane Scard and Konstantina Foteinou for arranging meetings and lending their support to bring this booklet to life.
We are grateful to members of the Biochemistry Department in Oxford for recounting their inspiring stories of discovery, and to Raymond Dwek for helping to produce the booklet. We very much hope you will enjoy reading the celebratory tales and that you will help us to support the next generation of outstanding biochemists by donating to our studentship fund. Your money will be used to provide support for talented PhD and summer students, at the very start of their biochemistry careers.
Continue this legacy of brilliant biochemistry and give whatever you can.
Supporting the development of Biochemists for the future.
Contact: sarah-jane.scard@bioch.ox.ac.uk