Walter Gilbert

Facts

Walter Gilbert

Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.

Walter Gilbert
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1980

Born: 21 March 1932, Boston, MA, USA

Affiliation at the time of the award: Harvard University, Biological Laboratories, Cambridge, MA, USA

Prize motivation: “for their contributions concerning the determination of base sequences in nucleic acids”

Prize share: 1/4

Work

An organism's genome is stored in the form of long rows of building blocks, known as nucleotides, which form DNA molecules. An organism's genome can be mapped by establishing the order of the nucleotides within the DNA molecule. In 1976, Allan Maxam and Walter Gilbert developed a method by which the ends of the DNA molecule could be marked using radioactive substances. After undergoing treatment with small amounts of chemicals that react with specific nucleotides, DNA fragments of varying lengths can be obtained. After undergoing what is known as electrophoresis, the nucleotide sequences in a DNA sample can be identified.

To cite this section
MLA style: Walter Gilbert – Facts. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2024. Thu. 28 Mar 2024. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1980/gilbert/facts/>

Back to top Back To Top Takes users back to the top of the page

Nobel Prizes and laureates

Eleven laureates were awarded a Nobel Prize in 2023, for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. Their work and discoveries range from effective mRNA vaccines and attosecond physics to fighting against the oppression of women.

See them all presented here.
Illustration

Explore prizes and laureates

Look for popular awards and laureates in different fields, and discover the history of the Nobel Prize.