paleonet Woese wins Crafoord Prize

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The 2003 Crafoord Prize for Biosciences
Carl R. Woese recognized for his discovery of the Archaea. | By David Bruce
<mailto:david@thescientisteurope.com>
The 2003 Crafoord Prize
<http://www.kva.se/KVA_Root/eng/_news/detail.asp?NewsId=291> has been
awarded to Carl R. Woese <http://www.life.uiuc.edu/micro/woese.html>,
professor of Microbiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
"for his discovery of a third domain of life."
Until Woese - who describes himself as a molecular biologist turned
evolutionist - discovered otherwise, the paradigm stated that there were two
domains of life: the prokaryotes which lack a cell nucleus (e.g. the
bacteria), and the eukaryotes which have genetic material organized into a
nucleus (the protists, fungi, plants, and animals). Woese overturned this
view through the comparative sequence analysis of ribosomal RNA
</pubmed/93138293> (rRNA) from many different microorganisms.
Analysis of rRNA showed that within the prokaryotes there existed an
evolutionarily distinct group - the Archaea </pubmed/90280418> (previously
termed the Archaeabacteria). These organisms are similar to prokaryotes
cytologically, but are in fact more closely related to the eukaryotes. And
since both the Archaea and Bacteria have existed for most of Earth's history
they provide an invaluable resource for evolutionary studies. They have also
proved useful in extending our understanding of the nature and development
of the eukaryotic cell.
As well as providing important evolutionary information the Archaea are
fascinating organisms in their own right. The group includes extremophiles,
organisms that survive in extremely hot conditions and those that produce
methane, for example, presenting excellent opportunities to explore the
molecular basis of thermophilia and methanogenesis.
The $500,000 Crafoord prize, which is given in successive years for
discoveries in mathematics, geosciences, biosciences and astronomy, will be
awarded to Woese by the King of Sweden in a ceremony in Stockholm on
September 23, 2003.

H. Richard Lane
Program Director, Geology and Paleontology
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd. Room 785
Arlington, VA 22230 USA
703-292-4730; Fax: 703-292-9025
hlane@nsf.gov

NOTE:  Geology and Paleontology Program proposal submission dates have
changed to July 15 and January 15, beginning July 15, 2003.