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Nobel Prize Stories by High School Students — Dr. Mario R. Capecchi- Specific Gene Modifications -Physiology or Medicine 2007.
(This article is a summary of the full-length article Authored by Mr.Raj Konwar, New Delhi, India. It’s one of the 14 Chapters written by high school students and published in the PATH TO NOBEL book).
The book can be purchased at -https://www.afhdusa.org/item/5/path-to-nobel
Raj Konwar, an 11th-grade student at Army Public School in New Delhi, India, is a science enthusiast with a keen interest in Computer Science, Chemistry, and Physics. He’s also a passionate football player and has been part of the school football team since 6th grade. Despite coming from a humble background, Raj has shown exceptional dedication and hard work in his studies.
Dr. Mario R. Capecchi, a Nobel laureate known for his work on specific gene modifications. Born in Italy in 1937, Capecchi had a challenging childhood, being separated from his parents during World War II. He later migrated to the USA with his mother and became a US citizen. He received his PhD in Biophysics at Harvard University in 1967 and later moved to the University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Since 1989, Capecchi has been studying which genes are active during embryonic development. His research led to the discovery of principles for introducing specific gene modifications in mice using embryonic stem cells, earning him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2007.
Capecchi’s early life was marked by hardship, including surviving on the streets as a war orphan. After the war, he reunited with his mother and moved to the USA. His uncle, a physicist, and his aunt took on the task of educating him. He attended an outstanding high school and later Antioch College, where he became a serious student.
Capecchi’s scientific journey began in the early 1980s when he discovered that DNA sequences could be incorporated into the genes of a recipient cell through homologous recombination. Despite initial skepticism from the scientific community, Capecchi persevered with his research. His work with Oliver Smithies and Martin Evans led to the development of genetically modified mice, which has revolutionized the study of human diseases.
In an interview, Capecchi shared that his early life experiences taught him resilience and the importance of perseverance. He also emphasized the need for patience and learning from failures in scientific research. His words of wisdom for budding minds are to endure, try harder, and work with resolve.
Throughout his career, Capecchi has received numerous awards and honors, including the American Heart Association Distinguished Scientist Award, the Cátedra Santiago Grisolía Prize, and the American Association for Cancer Research Lifetime Achievement Award.
