The Most Famous Biochemist, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the biochemist you think is the most famous!

Updated on May 12, 2024 07:05

Consider the significance of knowing who the leading figures in biochemistry are. Among a sea of skilled professionals, understanding which biochemists have made the most impact can guide students and researchers in their academic pursuits and professional collaborations. It can also provide insight into potential career paths and innovative research areas. This site allows you to have a say in determining who stands out in the field of biochemistry. Through your votes, you contribute to shaping a dynamic list that reflects the opinions and attitudes of a broad community. As the votes accumulate, a clearer picture emerges of which biochemists are currently seen as the most influential and significant in their field.

Who Is the Most Famous Biochemist?

1

85
votes
Nobel Foundation · Public domain

Linus Pauling

He was an American biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962. He made significant contributions to the understanding of chemical bonding and protein structure.
Linus Pauling in other rankings
- Position 3 of 10 in Most famous chemist
2

32
votes
Frederick Sanger

He was a British biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry twice, in 1958 and 1980, for his work on the structure of proteins and nucleic acids. He is known for developing techniques to sequence DNA, which revolutionized the field of genetics.
Frederick Sanger in other rankings
- Position 9 of 10 in Most famous microbiologist
3

25
votes
James Watson

He is an American molecular biologist and biochemist who, along with Francis Crick, discovered the structure of DNA in 1953. He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 for his contributions to the discovery.
James Watson in other rankings
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous geneticist
- Position 9 of 10 in Most famous Marine Biologist
- Position 10 of 10 in Most famous living scientist
4

25
votes
Unknown authorUnknown author · CC BY 4.0

Francis Crick

He was a British molecular biologist and biochemist who, along with James Watson, discovered the structure of DNA in 1953. He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 for his contributions to the discovery.
Francis Crick in other rankings
- Position 3 of 10 in Most famous geneticist
5

18
votes

Dona Mapston · CC BY-SA 3.0

Kary Mullis

He was an American biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993 for his invention of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, which made it possible to amplify DNA sequences. This technique has revolutionized the field of molecular biology and has many practical applications, such as in forensic science and medical diagnostics.
6

13
votes

Hubbard, Edward A.; National Institutes of Health · Public domain

Christian Anfinsen

He was an American biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1972 for his work on the folding of proteins. He showed that the sequence of amino acids in a protein determines its three-dimensional structure, which is essential for its function.
7

5
votes

University of Bristol · CC BY-SA 2.0

Dorothy Hodgkin

She was a British biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964 for her work on the structure of important biochemical substances, such as penicillin and vitamin B12. She developed X-ray crystallography techniques that allowed her to determine the three-dimensional structures of these molecules.
8

8
votes

Dr Saptarshi · Public domain

Roger Kornberg

He is an American biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2006 for his work on the molecular basis of transcription, the process by which genetic information is copied from DNA to RNA. He developed techniques that allowed him to visualize the structure of the transcription machinery at the atomic level.
9

5
votes

Jane Gitschier · CC BY 2.5

Thomas Cech

He is an American biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1989 for his discovery of catalytic RNA, or ribozymes. He showed that RNA molecules can have enzymatic activity, which was previously thought to be unique to proteins.
10

11
votes
GlaxoSmithKline plc · CC BY 4.0

Gertrude B. Elion

She was an American biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1988 for her work on the development of drugs used to treat leukemia, malaria, and other diseases. She developed methods for synthesizing and testing new drugs, which led to the discovery of many important medications.
Gertrude B. Elion in other rankings
- Position 4 of 10 in Most famous female chemist

Missing your favorite biochemist?

Graphs

Discussion

Ranking factors for famous biochemist

Contributions to the field

The impact of their contributions and discoveries in biochemistry and related fields.
Awards and recognitions

The number and significance of awards and honours received for their work.
Publications

The quality and quantity of scientific papers and books authored by the biochemist.
Citations

The number of times their work has been cited by other researchers.
Impact and influence

The extent to which their work has influenced the development of the field and the impact it has had on society.
Collaborations

The successful collaborations they have had with other notable biochemists.
Popularity and media coverage

The level of public recognition and media attention they have received for their work.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most famous biochemist. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or biochemist is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

2597 views
226 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each biochemist once every 24 hours. The rank of each biochemist is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most famous biochemist

Biochemistry is a fascinating field that explores the chemical processes within living organisms. It is a vital area of study that has led to countless advancements in medicine, agriculture, and environmental science. Over the years, many brilliant minds have contributed to the field of biochemistry, but one question still remains unanswered: Who is the most famous biochemist of all time? To answer this question, we must first understand what makes a biochemist famous. Is it their groundbreaking discoveries, their contributions to the field, or their overall impact on society? Many names come to mind, including Linus Pauling, who won two Nobel Prizes for his work on chemical bonding and molecular biology, and Frederick Sanger, who developed methods for sequencing DNA. Another notable figure is Rosalind Franklin, whose research on X-ray crystallography provided crucial insight into the structure of DNA. Despite her significant contributions, Franklin's work was largely unrecognized during her lifetime. Today, biochemistry continues to be a rapidly evolving field, with new breakthroughs and discoveries being made every day. While there may never be a definitive answer to the question of who is the most famous biochemist, we can appreciate the immense impact that these brilliant minds have had on the world of science and beyond.