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Discover›Science
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François Jacob
Biologist

François Jacob

Famoose for

Explaining how genes are switched on and off

Gene regulation · Popular accounts

Born
17 June 1920
Birthplace
Nancy
Died
19 April 2013

More people

Marie CurieDiscovering polonium and radium.Albert EinsteinDeveloping the theory of relativity.Charles DarwinExplaining evolution through natural selection.

François Jacob

François Jacob helped establish a molecular account of gene regulation. Working with Jacques Monod, he investigated how cells control the production of proteins rather than producing them continuously.

Early life

Medical beginnings

Grew up in France and began medical studies before the Second World War interrupted his training. He qualified as a doctor in 1947.

Career

  1. 1940–1944

    War service

    Joined the Free French medical services and was wounded during the war.

  2. 1965

    Nobel Prize

    Shared the medicine prize with Monod and André Lwoff.

Contributions

Gene regulation

Helped explain genetic control of enzyme production.

Popular accounts

Wrote for readers beyond specialist laboratories.

Beyond work

Family

Married concert pianist Lise Bloch; they had four children.

Sources & photo creditBiography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Additional biographical or achievement source ↗

Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.

Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.