Pioneering British scientist and Nobel Prize winner Professor Sir John Sulston has died aged 75, his colleagues have announced.
Sir John founded and directed the Wellcome Sanger Institute near Cambridge, one of the country’s foremost biomedical institutions.
Some experts argue that his work in mapping the human genome made him one of the greatest scientists of our time.
Professor Sir John Sulston in his laboratory at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute near Cambridge in 2002, after it was announced he had won a share of the Nobel Prize in medicine
Sir John has been described as a brilliant scientist and a wonderful, kind and principled man
Sir John founded and directed the Wellcome Sanger Institute near Cambridge, one of the country’s foremost biomedical institutions
The geneticist was awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine or physiology in 2002, along with two of his former colleagues, for work aiding the understanding of how genes control cell division and cell death in organisms.
Sir John founded the Sanger Institute – then called the Sanger Centre – at Hinxton, near Cambridge, and was director between 1992 to 2000.
It has gone on to become one of the leading centres for genome research in the world.
Professor Sir Mike Stratton, director of the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: ‘He had a burning and unrelenting commitment to making genome data open to all without restriction and his leadership in this regard is in large part responsible for the free access now enjoyed.
Sir John passionately believed that genome data should be open to all without restriction and his leadership in this area has been credited for the free access now enjoyed
Experts say that gene therapy treatment has played a crucial role in treating HIV and Aids
Sir John was born on March 17 1942 and showed an interest in the workings of organisms from an early age
Part of the genome consists of genes which contain all the coded instructions for creating a human being.
‘We all feel the loss today of a great scientific visionary and leader who made historic, landmark contributions to knowledge of the living world, and established a mission and agenda that defines 21st century science.’
Sir John has also been widely praised for the unacknowledged work he did in making sure that scientific information was made widely available.
He will be remembered for his passionate belief in pushing the boundaries of science and in making data on the human genome available to all.
He will also be be remembered for the the great rivalry he shared with Prof Craig Venter, who also spearheaded efforts to sequence and patent human genes, leading to a race between the two.
In 2002, Prof Venter criticised Sir John, alleging that his efforts had succeeded only in curtailing the development of the technology.
But most scientists have praised his genius. Jeremy Farrar, director of biomedical research charity Wellcome, said: ‘John was a brilliant scientist and a wonderful, kind and principled man.
‘His leadership was critical to the establishment of the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the Human Genome Project, one of the most important scientific endeavours of the past century.’
Sir John was born on March 17 1942 and showed an interest in the workings of organisms from an early age.
He completed his undergraduate degree in organic chemistry at Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge in 1963, and went on to join the department of Chemistry to carry out a PhD.
At the time of his death, he was professor and chairman of the Institute of Science, Ethics and Innovation at the University of Manchester.