Dr. Cech grew up in Iowa, attending Grinnell College (B.A.) and then UC-Berkeley (Ph.D.). After postdoctoral research at M.I.T., he joined the faculty of the University of Colorado Boulder in 1978. In 1982 Dr. Cech and his research group announced RNA self-splicing in Tetrahymena, providing the first exception to the long-held belief that biological reactions are always catalyzed by proteins. Dr. Cech became an HHMI investigator in 1988 and later president of HHMI (2000-2009). He received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1989) and the National Medal of Science (1995) and has been elected to the U.S. National Academies of Science (1987) and Medicine (2000).

Episode Host: Bobby Gordon, MA, MBA.

This episode was recorded on 10-17-24 and the information discussed is current as of the date of the recording.