Paul C. Lauterbur
Center for Advanced Study
Professor of Chemistry, Biophysics and Computational Biology and Bioengineering
Distinguished University Professor of Medical Information Sciences
Professor Paul C. Lauterbur received his B.S. degree from Case Institute of Technology in 1951 and a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1962. In 1985 he joined the faculty at Illinois. His research interests are in chemistry, especially its role in the origin of life.
Research
We are studying the ways in which molecular imprints may have been involved in the transition form chemistry to biology. The hypothesis is attractive because these structures, spontaneously generated during the condensation of both organic and inorganic solids in the presence of other molecules, are capable of binding reversibly specific molecules, differentiating between chemical and enantiomeric compounds, and catalyzing reactions, thus prefiguring biological structures such as ribosomes.
Secondarily, they may make possible general replication reactions and chemical evolution of polypeptides, nucleic acids, and even carbohydrates, in the absence of life.
We are carrying out a variety of experiments, as well as structural modeling and simulations of reaction sequences by computer to test these hypotheses, which may have implications for other aspects of chemistry as well.
Publications
"The Structure of Chemical Matter and the Germs of Life," Second Astrobiology Symposium, NASA Ames Research Laboratory, April 7-11, 2002, poster.
"Prolonged Exercise Induces Angiogenesis And Increases Cerebral Blood Volume In Primary Motor Cortex Of The Rat," R. A. Swain, A. B. Harris, E. C. Wiener, M. V. Dutka, H. D. Morris, B. E. Theien, S. Konda, K. Engberg, P. C. Lauterbur, W. T. Greenough, Neuroscience, 117, 1037-1046 (2003).
"Demystifying Biology: Did Life Begin as a Complex System?" P.C. Lauterbur, Complexity, 11, 30-35 (2005).
"Modeling the Interactions of a Silica Surface Embeded with a Dipeptide Imprint," L.A. Kinsinger, P.C. Lauterbur, J. Baudry, National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (upcoming), March 26-30, 2006, poster.
Awards
- Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- Eduard Rhein Foundation Technology Award
- APS Prize in Biological Physics
- Albert Lasker Clinical Research Award
- Member, National Academy of Sciences
- National Medal of Science
- NAS Award for Chemistry in Service to Society
