Howard M. Goodman

Last updated
Howard M. Goodman
Alma mater Williams College, MIT
Scientific career
Fields Molecular Biology
Institutions Massachusetts General Hospital, University of California, Berkeley
Doctoral advisor Alexander Rich
Notable students Patricia Zambryski

Howard M. Goodman is an American molecular biologist and a professor of genetics emeritus at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is best known for his role in founding the department of molecular biology at Massachusetts General Hospital. [1] [2]

Contents

Education and Research

Goodman earned his B.S. in physics from Williams College and did Ph.D. in biology from MIT in 1964 under the direction of Alexander Rich working on the mechanism of polyribosome activity. He did his postdoctoral research at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology from 1964 to 1967 and at the University of Geneva.

Goodman worked at the University of California, San Francisco from 1970 to 1981 where he worked on the application of cloning techniques for the study of human genes including human growth hormone [3] and insulin along with William J. Rutter. [4] [5] That work would be patented and lead to the introduction of recombinant biotech drugs. [6] [7] His group also worked on setting the foundation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens biology. [8] [2]

In 1981, Goodman would move to Massachusetts General Hospital to found the Department of Molecular Biology alongside Philip Leder who would establish the Department of Genetics. [9] Backed by an 10-year $70 million agreement with Hoechst AG, Goodman started the department based on university-industry research relationships. [10] [11] He would serve as the department chair until his retirement in 2004. During that period, he established a program in plant biology with Frederick M. Ausubel cementing arabidopsis as a model system for plant research. [12] During retirement, he joined Patricia Zambryski, a former postdoc, at the University of California, Berkeley to work on Arabidopsis biology.

Personal life

Goodman met his wife Deborah Cohen while working in Geneva. [11]

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. "About our department". Molbio. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Pioneers Howard Goodman". American Society of Plant Biologists. American Society of Plant Biologists. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  3. Martial, Joseph A.; Hallewell, Robert A.; Baxter, John D.; Goodman, Howard M. (10 August 1979). "Human Growth Hormone: Complementary DNA Cloning and Expression in Bacteria". Science. 205 (4406): 602–607. doi:10.1126/science.377496.
  4. Ullrich, Axel; Shine, John; Chirgwin, John; Pictet, Raymond; Tischer, Edmund; Rutter, William J.; Goodman, Howard M. (17 June 1977). "Rat Insulin Genes: Construction of Plasmids Containing the Coding Sequences". Science. 196 (4296): 1313–1319. doi:10.1126/science.325648.
  5. Bell, Graeme I.; Pictet, Raymond L.; Rutter, William J.; Cordell, Barbara; Tischer, Edmund; Goodman, Howard M. (March 1980). "Sequence of the human insulin gene". Nature. 284 (5751): 26–32. doi:10.1038/284026a0.
  6. Rimmer, Matthew (2002–2003). "Genentech and the Stolen Gene: Patent Law and Pioneer Inventions". Bio-Science Law Review. 5 (6): 198–211. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  7. Medicine, Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Technological Innovation in; Rosenberg, Nathan; Gelijns, Annetine C.; Dawkins, Holly (1995). "Incentives and Focus in University and Industrial Research: The Case of Synthetic Insulin". Sources of Medical Technology: Universities and Industry. National Academies Press (US).
  8. Zambryski, Patricia; Holsters, Marcelle; Kruger, Kelly; Depicker, Ann; Schell, Josef; Van Montagu, Marc; Goodman, Howard M. (19 September 1980). "Tumor DNA Structure in Plant Cells Transformed by A. tumefaciens". Science. 209 (4463): 1385–1391. doi:10.1126/science.6251546.
  9. "History". genetics.hms.harvard.edu.
  10. Culliton, Barbara J. (11 June 1982). "The Hoechst Department of Mass General: A corporate investment of $70 million is the financial cornerstone of what may become a major center for molecular biology". Science. 216 (4551): 1200–1203. doi:10.1126/science.7079753.
  11. 1 2 Bouton, Katherine (11 September 1983). "ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND BIG BUSINESS: A DELICATE BALANCE". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  12. "Howard Goodman Testimonials". American Society of Plant Biologists.