J. Murdoch Ritchie
Encyclopedia
Joseph Murdoch Ritchie (June 10, 1925 - July 9, 2008) was an American
biophysicist
and a professor at Yale University
. He is known for asking the C.I.A. in 1975 to share its supply of saxitoxin
(which were used in suicide pill
s) with scientists for research and his work in neuroscience. He was the co-author of numerous scientific and technical books and articles.
and physics
at the University of Aberdeen
, then did his doctorate at University College, London in biophysics in 1952. He joined the faculty at Yale in pharmacology
in 1968, and later served as chairman of the department and as director of the division of biological sciences (1975 to 1978). He retired in 2003.
He was married to Brenda Bigland-Ritchie, a physiologist. They had a son, Alasdair Ritchie, a biologist, and a daughter, Jocelyn Ritchie, a neuropsychologist.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
biophysicist
Biophysics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physical science to study biological systems. Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms and ecosystems...
and a professor at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. He is known for asking the C.I.A. in 1975 to share its supply of saxitoxin
Saxitoxin
Saxitoxin is a neurotoxin naturally produced by certain species of marine dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria Saxitoxin (STX) is a neurotoxin naturally produced by certain species of marine dinoflagellates (Alexandrium sp., Gymnodinium sp., Pyrodinium sp.) and cyanobacteria Saxitoxin (STX) is a...
(which were used in suicide pill
Suicide pill
A Cyanide pill is a pill, capsule, ampoule or tablet containing a fatally poisonous substance that a person ingests deliberately in order to quickly cause his/her own life to end...
s) with scientists for research and his work in neuroscience. He was the co-author of numerous scientific and technical books and articles.
Biography
He studied mathematicsMathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
, then did his doctorate at University College, London in biophysics in 1952. He joined the faculty at Yale in pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
in 1968, and later served as chairman of the department and as director of the division of biological sciences (1975 to 1978). He retired in 2003.
He was married to Brenda Bigland-Ritchie, a physiologist. They had a son, Alasdair Ritchie, a biologist, and a daughter, Jocelyn Ritchie, a neuropsychologist.