John B. Gurdon, 92, Dies; Nobelist Paved Way for Cloning of Animals

John B. Gurdon, a British developmental biologist, passed away at the age of 92. Gurdon's pioneering work in cell manipulation laid the groundwork for advancements in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. His research culminated in the successful cloning of the first large mammal, a sheep named Dolly, which was a significant milestone in the field of cloning. Gurdon's experiments demonstrated the remarkable plasticity of cells, challenging the long-held belief that a cell's fate was irreversible. His findings paved the way for the development of techniques such as nuclear transfer, which were crucial in the cloning of Dolly. Gurdon's contributions were recognized with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012, shared with Shinya Yamanaka, for their discoveries that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent. Gurdon's groundbreaking work has had a lasting impact on the scientific community, opening up new avenues of research and inspiring further advancements in the understanding of cell biology and its potential applications in medicine.