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Frederick Sanger Facts & Worksheets

Frederick Sanger was an English scientist, biochemist, and a double Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry.

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Frederick Sanger was an English scientist, biochemist, and a double Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry. He is best known for discovering the structure of insulin and DNA sequencing method, which opened new paths to the development of molecular biology studies and solving complex medical problems.

See the fact file below for more information on Frederick Sanger or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Frederick Sanger worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE

  • Frederick Sanger was born on August 13, 1918, in Gloucestershire. He was the second child of Frederick Sanger, a medical practitioner.
  • Raised in a well-established family, he had the opportunity to enter top-notch schools and rely on family money to channel all of his energy into the research.
  • Sanger’s interests in Science began while he was at school at Bryanston, Dorset.
  • He then decided to study at St. John’s College, Cambridge, where he earned his B.A. degree in Natural Sciences in 1939.
  • After graduation, he joined the Department of Biochemistry at Cambridge in 1940 and obtained his PhD degree in 1943.
  • Sanger married Joan Howe in December, 1940, and they had three children (two sons and one daughter).

CAREER AND CONTRIBUTIONS

  • Sanger’s interests in molecular biology studies began when he worked with Dr. A. Neuberger in the department. His first project was related to the determination of the structure of proteins.
  • His career growth took a significant turn when he met Charles Chibnall and helped him in identifying the unknown amino acids contained in the insulin structure.
  • He began his experiment by using a range of analytical techniques, including partition chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography, and 2D paper chromatography.
  • After numerous tests, Sanger successfully elucidated the complete structure of insulin in 1955. Because of his work, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1958.
  • In 1962, the Medical Research Council opened a new laboratory of molecular biology in Cambridge. Sanger moved to the laboratory as head of the protein division.
  • He led a team, which included a chemist and a physicist, and pursued a new study on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
  • At that time, DNA studies were uncommon since a DNA molecule was too massive and there was no suitable method to cut a DNA molecule into smaller pieces.
  • In the new lab, Sanger and his team had a mission to sequence a messenger DNA and determine the genetic code. First, they developed a small-scale method to use a specific enzyme to break down the DNA into smaller products which could be used to give information on base sequence. However, this technique proved to be a very slow process.
  • After another phase of trials and errors, Sanger received his second Nobel prize with Paul Berg and Walter Gilbert in 1980 – for the work of which he was most proud.
  • Sanger’s team had successfully invented a new technique, commonly called ‘Sanger Sequencing.’
  • This method allows a large number of bases to be read and identified by inserting chain-terminating nucleotide analogues into DNA during the process.
  • In the new lab, Sanger and his team had a mission to sequence a messenger DNA and determine the genetic code. First, they developed a small-scale method to use a specific enzyme to break down the DNA into smaller products which could be used to give information on base sequence. However, this technique proved to be a very slow process.
  • After another phase of trials and errors, Sanger received his second Nobel prize with Paul Berg and Walter Gilbert in 1980 – for the work of which he was most proud.
  • Sanger’s team had successfully invented a new technique, commonly called ‘Sanger Sequencing.’
  • This method allows a large number of bases to be read and identified by inserting chain-terminating nucleotide analogues into DNA during the sequencing process.

DEATH AND LEGACY

  • Sanger’s innovations contributed to the advancement of automated genome sequencing, which allows scientists and medical practitioners to identify the genomes through visual presentations, using different colored dyes and an automatic data system.
  • His method is now used to attack genomes in various organelles containing as many as three billion base pairs.
  • Sanger retired in 1983, at the age of 65. During his retirement, he enjoyed spending his free time gardening and boating.
  • In 1992, a non-profit research institute on genomics and genetic studies was established in the UK under his name, known as the Wellcome Sanger Institute. The Institute now employs 900 people and covers five main areas of research: Cancer, Ageing, and Somatic Mutation; Cellular Genetics; Human Genetics; Parasite and Microbes; and Tree of Life.
  • Sanger passed away at the age of 95 in November, 2013. Since his death, he has been known as the father of modern molecular biology.

Frederick Sanger Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Frederick Sanger across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Frederick Sanger worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Frederick Sanger who was an English scientist, biochemist, and a double Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry. He is best known for discovering the structure of insulin and DNA sequencing method, which opened new paths to the development of molecular biology studies and solving complex medical problems.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Frederick Sanger Facts
  • Father of Modern Molecular Biology
  • Famous Scientists
  • Sanger’s Scientist Traits
  • Between the Two
  • Lab Experiment
  • Today’s Technology
  • My Working Space
  • The Rewarding Values of Science
  • Molecular Biology Word Search
  • Capturing the Cells

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Use With Any Curriculum

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