Alexander R. Todd

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Alexander R. Todd

Role / Field:

Pioneering biochemist known for work on nucleotides, earning the 1957 Nobel Prize.

Born:

1907-10-02

Died:

1997-01-10

Century / Era:

1907s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Alexander Robertus Todd, Baron Todd (2 October 1907 – 10 January 1997) was a British biochemist whose research on the structure and synthesis of nucleotides, nucleosides, and nucleotide coenzymes gained him the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1957. Todd was born at Cathcart in outer Glasgow, the elder son of Alexander Todd, JP, a clerk with the Glasgow Subway, and his wife, Jane Lowry. He attended Allan Glen's School and graduated from the University of Glasgow with a bachelor's degree (BSc) in 1928. He received a doctorate (Dr Phil.nat.) from Goethe University Frankfurt in 1931 for his thesis on the chemistry of the bile acids. Todd was awarded an 1851 Research Fellowship from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, and, after studying at Oriel College, Oxford, he received another doctorate (DPhil) in 1933.

Career & Major Achievements

Todd held posts with the Lister Institute, the University of Edinburgh (staff, 1934–1936) and the University of London, where he was appointed Reader in biochemistry. In 1938, Alexander Todd spent six months as a visiting professor at California Institute of Technology, eventually declining an offer of faculty position. Todd became the Sir Samuel Hall Chair of Chemistry and director of the Chemical Laboratories of the University of Manchester in 1938, where he began working on nucleosides, compounds that form the structural units of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). At 31, he was the youngest professor of chemistry since Frankland. He was elected to membership of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society in 1938.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1944, he was appointed to the 1702 Chair of Chemistry in the University of Cambridge, which he held until his retirement in 1971. In 1949, he synthesised adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Todd served as a visiting professor at the University of Chicago in Autumn 1948 and University of Sydney in 1950. By 1951, Todd and collaborators at Cambridge had determined by biochemical methods how the backbone of DNA is structured via the successive linking of carbon atoms 3 and 5 of the sugar to phosphates. This helped corroborate Francis Crick and James_Watson's X-ray structural work published in 1953.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1851: 1851 Milestone — Todd was awarded an 1851 Research Fellowship from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, and, after studying at Oriel College, Oxford, he received another doctorate (DPhil) in 1933.
2. 1907 (1907-10-02): Birth of Alexander R. Todd — Pioneering biochemist known for work on nucleotides, earning the 1957 Nobel Prize.
3. 1928: 1928 Milestone — He attended Allan Glen's School and graduated from the University of Glasgow with a bachelor's degree (BSc) in 1928.
4. 1931: 1931 Milestone — ) from Goethe University Frankfurt in 1931 for his thesis on the chemistry of the bile acids.
5. 1934: 1934 Milestone — Todd held posts with the Lister Institute, the University of Edinburgh (staff, 1934–1936) and the University of London, where he was appointed Reader in biochemistry.
6. 1938: 1938 Milestone — In 1938, Alexander Todd spent six months as a visiting professor at California Institute of Technology, eventually declining an offer of faculty position.
7. 1944: 1944 Milestone — In 1944, he was appointed to the 1702 Chair of Chemistry in the University of Cambridge, which he held until his retirement in 1971.
8. 1948: 1948 Milestone — Todd served as a visiting professor at the University of Chicago in Autumn 1948 and University of Sydney in 1950.
9. 1949: 1949 Milestone — In 1949, he synthesised adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD).
10. 1951: 1951 Milestone — By 1951, Todd and collaborators at Cambridge had determined by biochemical methods how the backbone of DNA is structured via the successive linking of carbon atoms 3 and 5 of the sugar to phosphates.
11. 1953: 1953 Milestone — This helped corroborate Francis Crick and James_Watson's X-ray structural work published in 1953.
12. 1997 (1997-01-10): Passing & Historical Legacy — Alexander R. Todd passed away on 1997-01-10, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Alexander R. Todd

True or False: “Alexander Todd was solely responsible for determining the final structure of Vitamin B12.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While he helped elucidate the structure, Dorothy Hodgkin and her team were credited with determining the final formula and definite structure.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Alexander R. Todd