Author Description

About the Author Dr. Hood received an MD from the Johns Hopkins Medical Schooland a PhD in Biochemistry from the California Institute of Technology. His research interests include immunology, development and the development of biological instrumentation (e.g. the protein sequenator and the automated fluorescent DNA sequencer). His research played a key role in unraveling the mysteries of anitbody diversity. Dr. Hood has taught molecular evolution, immunology, molecular biology and biochemistry. he is currently the Chairman (and founder) of the cross-disciplinary Department of Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Washington. Dr. Hood has received a variety of awards including the Albert Lasker Award for Medical Research (1987), Dickson Price (1987), Cefas Award for Biochemistry (1989), and the Distinguished Service Award from the national Association of Teachers (1998). He is deeply involved in K-12 science educatiohn. His hobbies include running, mountain climbing, and reading. Dr. Leland Hartwell is President and Director of Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson CancerResearch Center and Professor of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington.Dr. Hartwell’s primary research contributions were in identifying genes that controlcell division in yeast, including those necessary for the division process as well asthose necessary for the fi delity of genome reproduction. Subsequently, many of thesesame genes have been found to control cell division in humans and oft en to be thesite of alteration in cancer cells.Dr. Hartwell is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and has receivedthe Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, the Gairdner FoundationInternational Award, the Genetics Society Medal, and the 2001 Nobel Prize inPhysiology or Medicine. Dr. Janice Fischer is a Professor at The University of Texas at Austin, where she is an award-winning teacher of genetics and Director of the Biology Instructional Office. She received her Ph