George Weinstock
Encyclopedia
George M Weinstock is an American Professor of Genetics
and Professor of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University in St. Louis
and associate director of The Genome Institute. Before joining The Genome Institute, Dr. Weinstock was Co-Director of the Human Genome Sequencing Center
(HGSC) at Baylor College of Medicine
in Houston, Texas
, and Professor of Molecular and Human Genetics there. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Michigan
in 1970 and his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977. He has spent most of his career taking genomic approaches to study fundamental biological processes.
Weinstock's parents met during the Manhattan Project
in Los Alamos, New Mexico
, and he grew up meeting many of the participants in the atomic bomb project and their colleagues. He performed his PhD thesis under David Botstein at MIT, studying the structure of phage P22 chromosome
.
As a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. I. R. Lehman at Stanford University School of Medicine
, Dr. Weinstock and Kevin McEntee discovered that the RecA
protein of E. coli catalyzed strand transfer in genetic recombination
. Later, as a faculty member at the University of Texas at Houston, he led one of the first bacterial genome projects, collaborating with The Institute for Genomic Research
to sequence the entire genome of a bacterium, Treponema pallidum
, the organism that causes syphilis
. In 1999 he joined Richard Gibbs at the HGSC as one of the five main centers to work on the Human Genome Project
. The HGSC produced sequences of human chromosomes 3, 12 and X. Dr. Weinstock was a principal investigator in projects producing genome sequences for rat
, mouse
, macaque
, bovine, sea urchin
, honey bee
, fruit fly
and many microbial genomes, as well as one of the first personal genome projects, sequencing Dr. James Watson
’s genome using next-generation sequencing technology.
He is now a leader of the Human Microbiome Project
, studying the collection of microbes that colonize the human body.
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
and Professor of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
and associate director of The Genome Institute. Before joining The Genome Institute, Dr. Weinstock was Co-Director of the Human Genome Sequencing Center
Human Genome Sequencing Center
The Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center was established by Richard A. Gibbs in 1996 when BCM was chosen as one of six worldwide sites to complete the final phase of the International Human Genome Project...
(HGSC) at Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine, located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, USA, is a highly regarded medical school and leading center for biomedical research and clinical care...
in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and Professor of Molecular and Human Genetics there. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1970 and his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977. He has spent most of his career taking genomic approaches to study fundamental biological processes.
Weinstock's parents met during the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
in Los Alamos, New Mexico
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Los Alamos is a townsite and census-designated place in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States, built upon four mesas of the Pajarito Plateau and the adjoining White Rock Canyon. The population of the CDP was 12,019 at the 2010 Census. The townsite or "the hill" is one part of town while...
, and he grew up meeting many of the participants in the atomic bomb project and their colleagues. He performed his PhD thesis under David Botstein at MIT, studying the structure of phage P22 chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
.
As a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. I. R. Lehman at Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine is a leading medical school located at Stanford University Medical Center in Stanford, California. Originally based in San Francisco, California as Cooper Medical College, it is the oldest continuously running medical school in the western United States...
, Dr. Weinstock and Kevin McEntee discovered that the RecA
RecA
RecA is a 38 kilodalton Escherichia coli protein essential for the repair and maintenance of DNA. RecA has a structural and functional homolog in every species in which it has been seriously sought and serves as an archetype for this class of homologous DNA repair proteins...
protein of E. coli catalyzed strand transfer in genetic recombination
Genetic recombination
Genetic recombination is a process by which a molecule of nucleic acid is broken and then joined to a different one. Recombination can occur between similar molecules of DNA, as in homologous recombination, or dissimilar molecules, as in non-homologous end joining. Recombination is a common method...
. Later, as a faculty member at the University of Texas at Houston, he led one of the first bacterial genome projects, collaborating with The Institute for Genomic Research
The Institute for Genomic Research
The Institute for Genomic Research was a non-profit genomics research institute founded in 1992 by Craig Venter in Rockville, Maryland, United States. It is now a part of the J. Craig Venter Institute.-History:...
to sequence the entire genome of a bacterium, Treponema pallidum
Treponema pallidum
Treponema pallidum is a species of spirochaete bacterium with subspecies that cause treponemal diseases such as syphilis, bejel, pinta and yaws. The treponemes have a cytoplasmic and outer membrane...
, the organism that causes syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
. In 1999 he joined Richard Gibbs at the HGSC as one of the five main centers to work on the Human Genome Project
Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project is an international scientific research project with a primary goal of determining the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up DNA, and of identifying and mapping the approximately 20,000–25,000 genes of the human genome from both a physical and functional...
. The HGSC produced sequences of human chromosomes 3, 12 and X. Dr. Weinstock was a principal investigator in projects producing genome sequences for rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
, mouse
Mouse
A mouse is a small mammal belonging to the order of rodents. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse . It is also a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are also common. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles...
, macaque
Macaque
The macaques constitute a genus of Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. - Description :Aside from humans , the macaques are the most widespread primate genus, ranging from Japan to Afghanistan and, in the case of the barbary macaque, to North Africa...
, bovine, sea urchin
Sea urchin
Sea urchins or urchins are small, spiny, globular animals which, with their close kin, such as sand dollars, constitute the class Echinoidea of the echinoderm phylum. They inhabit all oceans. Their shell, or "test", is round and spiny, typically from across. Common colors include black and dull...
, honey bee
Honey bee
Honey bees are a subset of bees in the genus Apis, primarily distinguished by the production and storage of honey and the construction of perennial, colonial nests out of wax. Honey bees are the only extant members of the tribe Apini, all in the genus Apis...
, fruit fly
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster is a species of Diptera, or the order of flies, in the family Drosophilidae. The species is known generally as the common fruit fly or vinegar fly. Starting from Charles W...
and many microbial genomes, as well as one of the first personal genome projects, sequencing Dr. James Watson
James Watson
James Watson is the name of:*James Watson , British film and television actor*James Watson , United States Senator from New York...
’s genome using next-generation sequencing technology.
He is now a leader of the Human Microbiome Project
Human microbiome project
The Human Microbiome Project is a United States National Institutes of Health initiative with the goal of identifying and characterizing the microorganisms which are found in association with both healthy and diseased humans . Launched in 2008, it is a five-year project, best characterized as a...
, studying the collection of microbes that colonize the human body.
Awards and honors
- Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of ScienceAmerican Association for the Advancement of ScienceThe American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
- Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology
- Editorial Board, Genome Biology
- Editorial Board, Genome Biology and Evolution
- Editorial Board, BMC Genomics
External links
- Genome Institute Bio
- PubMed Citations
- "The Next Human Genome Project: Our Microbes." Technology Review. 2 May 2007.