Albert Claude
Facts
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Albert Claude
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1974
Born: 24 August 1898, Longlier, Belgium
Died: 22 May 1983, Brussels, Belgium
Affiliation at the time of the award: Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain, Belgium
Prize motivation: “for their discoveries concerning the structural and functional organization of the cell”
Prize share: 1/3
Work
Our bodies are made up of cells that contain organelles, components with various functions. Around 1945 Albert Claude conducted a number of trailblazing studies of cellular components. He made use of the newly developed electron microscope, which enabled him to capture images with a level of detail not previously available. Claude also developed methods for separating the various parts of pulverized cells with a centrifuge so they could be better studied. This also became a breakthrough for cell biology.
Nobel Prizes and laureates
Six prizes were awarded for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. The 12 laureates' work and discoveries range from proteins' structures and machine learning to fighting for a world free of nuclear weapons.
See them all presented here.
