Thursday, July 12, 2012

Peter Agre Nobel Prize in Chemistry (Interview)

Peter Agre Nobel Prize in Chemistry (Interview) Peter Agre (born January 30, 1949) is an American medical doctor, professor, and molecular biologist who was awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (which he shared with Roderick MacKinnon) for his discovery of aquaporins.Aquaporins are water-channel proteins that move water molecules through the cell membrane.

Born in Northfield, Minnesota, he received his B.A. from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota and his M.D. in 1974 from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. He currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for science and technology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC, where he guides the development of Duke's biomedical research. He was elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences in 2000 and to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2003. He is also a founding member of Scientists and Engineers for America (SEA), and serves on its Board of Advisors.

Agre is an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (DESA).Both of his brothers are also physicians and Eagle Scouts. His son is an Eagle Scout too.

He also enjoys cross-country skiing and has participated in the Vasaloppet ski race.

Dr. Agre is known among science students for his humanity and humility.Perhaps this originates from the grade of "D" Agre received in his first chemistry class, despite having a father who was a chemistry professor Or maybe from the fact his prize-winning research was originally an investigation of the molecular identity of the human blood Rh factor, and his initial discovery of aquaporins was purely serendipitous.

He appeared on The Colbert Report, discussing SEA, sound science in politics, and the decline of American knowledge of science, among other topics.

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