Famous Inventors Born in July!

Gerald M Edelman

Date of Birth: July 1, 1929

Mr. Edelman was a renowned neuroscientist and immunologist who significantly contributed to our understanding of the brain and the immune system.

Discovery of the Structure of Antibodies:

• Edelman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1972 (shared with Rodney R. Porter) for his work on the structure of antibodies. This work provided fundamental insights into how the immune system recognizes and fights pathogens.

Theory of Neuronal Group Selection (TNGS):

• Also known as Neural Darwinism, this theory proposes that the development and functioning of the brain are driven by a process similar to natural selection. According to this theory, neural circuits form, compete and adapt based on their effectiveness in processing information.

Richard Axel

Date of Birth: July 2, 1946

Mr. Axel is a renowned neuroscientist known for his groundbreaking research on the sense of smell.

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2004):

• In 1991, Richard Axel and Linda Buck discovered how hundreds of genes in our DNA code for the odorant sensors in our noses’ olfactory sensory neurons. Each receptor is a protein that changes when an odorant attaches itself to the receptor. This causes an electric signal to be sent to the brain. Small differences between different odorant sensors mean that certain odorants cause a signal to be released from a certain receptor. Smells are composed of a large number of different substances and we interpret the varying signals from our receptors as specific scents.

Andrew Ellicott Douglass

Date of Birth: July 5, 1867 

A. E. Douglass, an American astronomer and the founder of dendrochronology, made significant contributions to astronomy and the study of tree rings.

Founding of Dendrochronology:

• Douglass is best known for establishing the field of dendrochronology, which is the scientific method of dating tree rings to the exact year they were formed. This work has had profound implications for various fields including archaeology, climatology, and ecology.

Studies on Solar Activity:

• Douglass conducted extensive research on the relationship between solar activity and terrestrial climate. He hypothesized that variations in solar radiation could influence weather patterns on Earth, which he studied through tree ring records.