Ronald W. Davis
Encyclopedia
Ronald "Ron" W. Davis Ph.D. is Professor
of Biochemistry
& Genetics
, and Director of the Stanford Genome Technology Center at Stanford University
. Davis is a researcher in biotechnology and molecular genetics, particularly active in human and yeast genomics and the development of new technologies in genomics, with over 30 biotechnology patent
s.
After completing his PhD at Caltech and a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University
, Davis joined the faculty of Stanford's department of biochemistry in 1972, becoming associate professor in 1980, full professor in 1980, and joined the department of genetics as a professor in 1990. He became director of the Stanford Genome Technology Center in 1994. He was elected member of the National Academy of Sciences
1983.
With Janet Mertz, Davis was the first to demonstrate the use of restriction endonucleases for joining DNA
fragments. Davis collaborated in the development of the first DNA microarray
for gene expression profiling with Patrick O. Brown
, and the gene expression profile of the first complete eukaryotic
genome (Saccharomyces cerevisiae
). Davis, with David Botstein, Mark Skolnick, and Ray White developed the method for constructing a genetic linkage
map using restriction fragment length polymorphism
s that enabled and led to the Human Genome Project
.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Biochemistry
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...
& Genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
, and Director of the Stanford Genome Technology Center at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. Davis is a researcher in biotechnology and molecular genetics, particularly active in human and yeast genomics and the development of new technologies in genomics, with over 30 biotechnology patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
s.
After completing his PhD at Caltech and a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Davis joined the faculty of Stanford's department of biochemistry in 1972, becoming associate professor in 1980, full professor in 1980, and joined the department of genetics as a professor in 1990. He became director of the Stanford Genome Technology Center in 1994. He was elected member of the National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences commonly refers to the academy in the United States of America.National Academy of Sciences may also refer to :* National Academy of Sciences of Argentina* Armenian National Academy of Sciences...
1983.
With Janet Mertz, Davis was the first to demonstrate the use of restriction endonucleases for joining DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
fragments. Davis collaborated in the development of the first DNA microarray
DNA microarray
A DNA microarray is a collection of microscopic DNA spots attached to a solid surface. Scientists use DNA microarrays to measure the expression levels of large numbers of genes simultaneously or to genotype multiple regions of a genome...
for gene expression profiling with Patrick O. Brown
Patrick O. Brown
Patrick O. "Pat" Brown M.D., Ph.D., born 1954 in Washington, DC, is a Professor of biochemistry at Stanford University. He got his B.S., M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. His research uses DNA microarrays to study the gene expression patterns associated with especially cancer...
, and the gene expression profile of the first complete eukaryotic
Eukaryote
A eukaryote is an organism whose cells contain complex structures enclosed within membranes. Eukaryotes may more formally be referred to as the taxon Eukarya or Eukaryota. The defining membrane-bound structure that sets eukaryotic cells apart from prokaryotic cells is the nucleus, or nuclear...
genome (Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a species of yeast. It is perhaps the most useful yeast, having been instrumental to baking and brewing since ancient times. It is believed that it was originally isolated from the skin of grapes...
). Davis, with David Botstein, Mark Skolnick, and Ray White developed the method for constructing a genetic linkage
Genetic linkage
Genetic linkage is the tendency of certain loci or alleles to be inherited together. Genetic loci that are physically close to one another on the same chromosome tend to stay together during meiosis, and are thus genetically linked.-Background:...
map using restriction fragment length polymorphism
Restriction fragment length polymorphism
In molecular biology, restriction fragment length polymorphism, or RFLP , is a technique that exploits variations in homologous DNA sequences. It refers to a difference between samples of homologous DNA molecules that come from differing locations of restriction enzyme sites, and to a related...
s that enabled and led to 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...
.
External links
- http://med.stanford.edu/sgtc/general/RonDavis_profile.html
- http://med.stanford.edu/profiles/biochemistry/frdActionServlet?choiceId=facProfile&fid=4117
- http://news.stanford.edu/stanfordtoday/ed/9611/9611fea1b01.shtml
- http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/restriction-enzymes-545
- http://www.gruberprizes.org/PressReleases/PressRelease_2011_Genetics.php