Mapping Life

Today’s genetics researchers navigate through DNA – the molecular instructions for life – almost as easily as we traverse a city aided by online maps. And the basic structure of their guiding maps, like ours, was drawn by pioneers exploring uncharted territory. Alfred Sturtevant – born on this day in 1891 – was one such molecular cartographer, and in 1913 made the first genetic map of a chromosome [tightly wound DNA bundles stored in our cells]. Having realised that genes [crucial DNA segments that code for particular functions] sit in order along chromosomes like stations on a train line, he devised a method for deducing the relative distance between them according to how frequently they were inherited together. Further research on fruit flies helped Sturtevant measure the distance between embryonic organs in a unit appropriately named the sturt, and he received the National Medal of Science in 1967 in recognition of a trailblazing career.

Written by Anthony Lewis

Anthony Lewis

Writer

Ant was the web editor in the early days of BPoD, and has since worked with the UK’s top science organisations as a writer and multimedia producer. He now splits his time between freelance work and managing multimedia at The Lancet.

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• Image courtesy of the Archives, California Institute of Technology
• Image copyright held by the Archive, California Institute of Technology. Reproduced with permission.