Tough Love
As I was studying like mad for my prokaryotic molecular genetics final exam, I found an (alas) engrossing anecdotal essay from Seymour Benzer, called Adventures in the rII Region, which contains the following rather amusing story.
Seymour Benzer, who died just one and a half months ago, was one of the giants of early molecular biology. He was one of the first geneticists to show that genes weren’t indivisible subunits on DNA (like beads on a string), but rather linear “regions” of DNA, which he called cistrons. Many consider his mapping of mutations within individual genes to be one of the most elegant and amazing achievements of early molecular biology.
When he first showed Delbruck (his mentor and another giant back in the day) his manuscript, apparently Delbruck commented, “Delusions of grandeur.” Benzer follows:
Delbruck knocked the paper so badly that not until a visit to Caltech the following spring did I dare to approach him with another version. He submitted it to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and it contained an appropriate acknowledgement of his “moderating influence.”
Tough love, indeed!
There are all sorts of anecdotes in that essay that a pleasure to read, about the entire molecular biology revolution of the mid-20th century, and the close relationships of the biggest players of the time. Some of those scientists were probably more than a little crazy! Check it out!
