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Born on this Day Vital Variety
23 May 2018

Vital Variety

We are a mashup of our parents. Their genetic material mixes together to form the unique DNA combinations in each of us that produce the rich variety of human life. In contrast, bacteria – microscopic beings found in every nook of our planet – typically reproduce simply by dividing, meaning that successive individuals are all identical clones. We didn’t know of any way for bacteria to swap genetic information, until Joshua Lederberg (pictured, right) – born on this day in 1925 – found them exchanging little DNA loops (plasmids) along temporary connecting bridges in 1946. A few years later he showed they can also share genes without even touching, via a virus courier (bacteriophage). These mechanisms became core tools in the fledgling field of molecular biology, and the discoveries won Lederberg a share of the 1958 Nobel Prize. Appreciating the value of variety, he went on to pioneer the study of artificial intelligence and biology in outer space.

Written by Anthony Lewis

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.