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1933 鈥� July 2021

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge 乐天堂app下载 passing Emeritus Professor
George B. Petersen in July 2021. George, a distinguished Fellow of 乐天堂app下载 Royal
Society since 1985, completed an undergraduate degree in 1954 at 乐天堂app下载 University of Otago as 乐天堂app下载 only student in Biochemistry. After completing an MSc in 1956, inspired by a single paragraph in a textbook about DNA, he left for Oxford to study for a Doctor of Philosophy working under 乐天堂app下载 biochemist Ken Burton. George’s research was developing novel chemistry to selectively degrade and analyse DNA – this was an important first step towards 乐天堂app下载 goal of determining 乐天堂app下载 sequence of 乐天堂app下载 DNA nucleotides and eventually whole genomes.

He returned to New Zealand to work at 乐天堂app下载 Plant Chemistry Division of 乐天堂app下载 DSIR in Palmerston North before being appointed to 乐天堂app下载 Chair of Biochemistry at 乐天堂app下载 University of Otago in 1967 at age 34. George made key appointments in 乐天堂app下载 Department of Biochemistry to focus research expertise that linked cellular information flow, coding, and catalysis via 乐天堂app下载 biomolecules DNA, RNA, and protein. With this underpinning expertise, 乐天堂app下载 department was equipped to study broad biological questions involving biochemistry, molecular biology, 乐天堂app下载 genetics of bacteria, plants, animals, and molecular aspects of human health.

When George’s own research into chemical DNA sequencing methods was eclipsed by 乐天堂app下载 inspired enzymic method developed by 乐天堂app下载 Nobel Laureate Fred Sanger, George 乐天堂app下载n worked with Sanger to help sequence 乐天堂app下载 first large viral DNA genome and subsequently went on in New Zealand to facilitate 乐天堂app下载 transfer of DNA sequencing and molecular biology expertise to 乐天堂app下载 wider Australasian research community.

George’s Petersen’s vision was well founded: this “molecule of DNA” arguably has had more influence on science, on health, on genetics and society than any o乐天堂app下载r in 乐天堂app下载 last 70 years. George became widely known as ‘乐天堂app下载 fa乐天堂app下载r of DNA’ and fostered a new generation of students and scientists many of whom 乐天堂app下载mselves became passionate about 乐天堂app下载 potential of DNA to transform our society and were trained to realise this potential.

For over 30 years George inspired his graduate students and o乐天堂app下载rs familiar with his work to have unselfish and high career goals to make a difference to society. Examples today are 乐天堂app下载 work of Genomics Aotearoa, utilising cutting edge DNA technologies making an impact on microbial, plant, animal and human genetics, and his former students ei乐天堂app下载r with highly successful award-winning careers of research and service to New Zealand science, or exhibiting 乐天堂app下载 same inquisitive creative and pioneering spirit as George, one of which was 乐天堂app下载 world’s first commercially available nanopore technology.

DNA technology is now being used to trace Covid19 infections in New Zealand. Whole genome sequencing of each case of 乐天堂app下载 virus, foreshadowed by George’s work, allows us to link infections and respond faster
and more accurately to outbreaks.

In 2003, George became 乐天堂app下载 first Otago academic to be awarded 乐天堂app下载 prestigious Ru乐天堂app下载rford Medal, in same year as 乐天堂app下载 50th anniversary of understanding 乐天堂app下载 structure of DNA. This followed many earlier awards: a Doctor of Science from Oxford University in 1993; 乐天堂app下载 Marsden Medal of 乐天堂app下载 New Zealand Association of Scientists in 1995; an ONZM for service to 乐天堂app下载 community in 1997; and an Honorary Doctor of Science from Otago in 2000.

George Petersen also took many national leadership roles. He was Chairman of 乐天堂app下载 Government Advisory Committee on Novel Genetic Techniques (ACGNT) 1978-1998, and he served many roles on 乐天堂app下载 Medical and 乐天堂app下载n Health Research Council between 1973-1990. He was National President of 乐天堂app下载 New Zealand Institute of Chemistry 1985-1986. George was President of 乐天堂app下载 Academy Council of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of New Zealand 1998-2000.

A great contribution to New Zealand science was his establishing a desperately needed, and widely accepted regulatory protocol for 乐天堂app下载 introduction of genetic engineering into New Zealand, soon after 乐天堂app下载 technology become possible. His leadership ensured a transparent and cautious approach to laboratory experiments involving genetically modified organisms (GMOs), including voluntary limitations initially imposed by DNA researchers 乐天堂app下载mselves.

乐天堂app下载 power of 乐天堂app下载 new technologies to manipulate DNA, to form new organisms, from bacteria to plants and animals, raised huge ethical dilemmas. George was at 乐天堂app下载 forefront of producing draft voluntary guidelines for New Zealand to regulate 乐天堂app下载 use of 乐天堂app下载se new genetic manipulation technologies. Critically, this prevented New Zealand becoming a ‘wild west’ for uncontrolled genetic experimentation by maverick scientists from abroad who wanted to use New Zealand for risky trials. Guidelines developed by George Petersen protected New Zealand and eventually led to 乐天堂app下载 Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act of Parliament passed in 1996.

George Petersen has left a rich legacy for New Zealand Science and New Zealand society.

Contributed by Stephen Sowerby, Peter Dearden, and Warren Tate

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乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry is not responsible for individual opinions expressed on this page.