Hal Dixon
Encyclopedia
Dr Henry Berkeley Franks Dixon D.Sc.
, known as Hal Dixon (16 May 1928–30 July 2008) was a biochemist
and Life Fellow
of King's College Cambridge. Born in Dublin, the youngest son of Henry Horatio Dixon
, he was interested in science from a young age; his discovery of an optical illusion arising from binocular vision was described by his father in Nature Magazine
when he was only nine years old.
After education at Shrewsbury School
he was awarded a scholarship
in 1946 to study Natural Sciences
at King's College Cambridge where his elder brother Kendal was a fellow, achieving firsts in Part I and Part II and specialising in biochemistry. He remained at King's for his graduate studies on peptide hormone
s, supervised by Frank Young
, and was awarded a Ph.D.
in 1954.
In 1953 he was elected to a Life Fellowship at King's, where he remained for the whole of his academic career, holding the positions of Financial Tutor (1956-1959), Director of Studies in Natural Sciences (1961-1981), Vice Provost (1981-1986) and Praelector
(1989-1992), as well as co-editor of the College Register. In 1954 he was appointed as University Demonstrator in biochemistry, and in 1959 was promoted to University Lecturer
. His research in chemistry
and biochemistry led to 136 published papers. From 1964-1965 he worked at the Institute of Molecular Biology in Moscow
as part of a UK
-USSR
exchange program. His particular interest in applications of methods from organic chemistry
to biochemistry led to a proposed treatment for Wilson's disease
.
Dixon was an editor of The Biochemical Journal
, and was Deputy Chairman of the Editorial Board from 1977-1982. He was secretary of the Nomenclature
Committee of the International Union of Biochemistry
from 1977-1982 and chairman from 1983-88, and after his retirement remained an advisory member.
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
, known as Hal Dixon (16 May 1928–30 July 2008) was a biochemist
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
and Life Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of King's College Cambridge. Born in Dublin, the youngest son of Henry Horatio Dixon
Henry Horatio Dixon
Henry Horatio Dixon was a plant biologist and professor at Trinity College Dublin. Along with John Joly, he put forward the cohesion-tension theory of water and mineral movement in plants....
, he was interested in science from a young age; his discovery of an optical illusion arising from binocular vision was described by his father in Nature Magazine
Nature (journal)
Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
when he was only nine years old.
After education at Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
he was awarded a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
in 1946 to study Natural Sciences
Natural Sciences (Cambridge)
The Natural Sciences Tripos is one of the several courses which form the University of Cambridge system of undergraduate teaching...
at King's College Cambridge where his elder brother Kendal was a fellow, achieving firsts in Part I and Part II and specialising in biochemistry. He remained at King's for his graduate studies on peptide hormone
Peptide hormone
Peptide hormones are a class of peptides that are secreted into the blood stream and have endocrine functions in living animals.Like other proteins, peptide hormones are synthesized in cells from amino acids according to an mRNA template, which is itself synthesized from a DNA template inside the...
s, supervised by Frank Young
Frank George Young
Sir Frank George Young FRS was a distinguished biochemist, noted for his work on diabetes, and the first Master of Darwin College, Cambridge.-Early life:...
, and was awarded a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1954.
In 1953 he was elected to a Life Fellowship at King's, where he remained for the whole of his academic career, holding the positions of Financial Tutor (1956-1959), Director of Studies in Natural Sciences (1961-1981), Vice Provost (1981-1986) and Praelector
Praelector
A praelector is a traditional role at the colleges of the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. The role differs between the two universities.At Cambridge, a praelector is a fellow of a college...
(1989-1992), as well as co-editor of the College Register. In 1954 he was appointed as University Demonstrator in biochemistry, and in 1959 was promoted to University Lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
. His research in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and biochemistry led to 136 published papers. From 1964-1965 he worked at the Institute of Molecular Biology in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
as part of a UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-USSR
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
exchange program. His particular interest in applications of methods from organic chemistry
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
to biochemistry led to a proposed treatment for Wilson's disease
Wilson's disease
Wilson's disease or hepatolenticular degeneration is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder in which copper accumulates in tissues; this manifests as neurological or psychiatric symptoms and liver disease...
.
Dixon was an editor of The Biochemical Journal
Biochemical Journal
The Biochemical Journal is a peer-reviewed scientific journal which covers all aspects of biochemistry, as well as cell and molecular biology...
, and was Deputy Chairman of the Editorial Board from 1977-1982. He was secretary of the Nomenclature
Nomenclature
Nomenclature is a term that applies to either a list of names or terms, or to the system of principles, procedures and terms related to naming - which is the assigning of a word or phrase to a particular object or property...
Committee of the International Union of Biochemistry
International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is an international non-governmental organisation concerned with biochemistry and molecular biology...
from 1977-1982 and chairman from 1983-88, and after his retirement remained an advisory member.