American Society For Microbiology
2010 Promega Biotechnology Research Award Laureate Print E-mail

Maynard V. Olson, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, has been selected to receive the 2010 Promega Biotechnology Research Award for his work in genomics.

“No other individual has played a more important role in the conceptual, experimental, and policy decisions which led to perhaps the single greatest accomplishment in modern biology
- the sequencing of the human genome,” stated Olson’s nominator, Eugene W. Nester, Ph.D., University of Washington. Olson began his career in chemistry but his interests changed to molecular genetics after spending five years in the University of Washington’s Genetics Department. He realized the study of complex genomes would require the separation of large DNA molecules. He developed the orthogonal-field-alternation gel electrophoresis technique which allows the separation of such molecules. Olson was also aware that cloning would be necessary to further characterize and manipulate these molecules. To accomplish this, he developed the YAC (yeast artificial chromosome) system. This system was immediately put to use in mapping the human genome and was also vital to the completion of the C. elegans map. It also led to the development of the BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) cloning system which in time became a key feature in the sequencing program of the human genome.

The size and complexity of the human genome, necessitated identification of positions of landmark sequences along the chromosome to guide the assembly of the entire sequence.  Developments in PCR allowed him to devise the sequence tagged site (STS) strategy. It located positive clones within a YAC library by screening for PCR gene target sequences. STS mapping quickly became the basis of human genome maps. He also developed the use of multiple-complete-restriction digestion as a mapping technique which provides redundant coverage of the DNA to be mapped.

Olson has also been a force in the development of genome policy. He formulated policies that pushed the international effort for sequencing the human genome and also contributed to the development of the plan of the National Research Council’s sequencing effort.

Last Updated on Thursday, 14 January 2010 13:13
 
   |  Membership  |  Publications  |  Meetings  |  Professional  |  Awards & Grants  |  Education  |  Policy  |  International  |  News Room  

American Society For Microbiology © 2009