University honors Norton Zinder with symposium and annual lecture

Symposium panelists. Rockefeller’s Michael W. Young moderates a panel on Dr. Zinder’s scientific contributions. From left: Dr. Young, Robert E. Webster, from Duke University School of Medicine, June R. Scott, from Emory University School of Medicine, and Marjorie Russel and James E. Darnell Jr., from Rockefeller.

by LESLIE CHURCH

Norton D. Zinder, the pioneering geneticist and molecular biologist who helped lay the foundation for the new field of molecular biology in the 1950s and ’60s, was honored with a memorial symposium in November. An annual endowed lecture is also being established in his name. Dr. Zinder, who died this past February after a long illness, was John D. Rockefeller Jr. Professor Emeritus at Rockefeller, where he spent his entire research career.

Dr. Zinder’s groundbreaking research on the genetics of bacteria and the viruses that infect them, called bacteriophages, provided important information about the mechanisms of heredity. In the 1970s, his active involvement in public policy helped shape early guidelines for recombinant DNA research. Decades later, Dr. Zinder was one of the forces behind the Human Genome Project.

The memorial symposium, held November 19, featured 15 panelists. In addition to the campus community, more than 100 guests attended. They included members of the Zinder family, as well as many scientists who had trained with Dr. Zinder — a group often referred to as the “Zinder Kinder.”

Each year, the new Zinder Lectureship will bring an outstanding scientist to the university to deliver a talk on a cutting edge research topic. The lecturer will also be invited to spend time on campus, engaging with faculty and students, and sharing insights, ideas and information in the spirit of scientific exchange that Dr. Zinder embodied. To date, more than 70 friends, former students and postdocs of Dr. Zinder and Rockefeller faculty have made gifts totaling $220,000 toward the $300,000 goal to endow the lectureship.

“Norton was one of the founders of microbial genetics. His early discoveries anticipated the development of recombinant DNA, and helped give rise to what has become molecular biology,” says Michael W. Young, vice president for academic affairs and Richard and Jeanne Fisher Professor in the Laboratory of Genetics. “Bringing similarly innovative scientists to Rockefeller to have discussions about their work is the best way we can honor Norton’s legacy.”

The Zinder Lecture will be part of the Friday Lecture Series.