Howard Martin Temin: Biography, Achievements & Lasting Legacy

By Geniuses.Club Editorial Team | August 02, 2026 | 1934–1994

Who Was Howard Martin Temin?

Howard Martin Temin (December 10, 1934 – February 9, 1994) was an American geneticist and virologist. He discovered reverse transcriptase in the 1970s at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, for which he shared the 1975 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Renato Dulbecco and David Baltimore.

Key Facts

Awards and Recognition

Howard Martin Temin received significant recognition for his contributions:

Legacy and Impact

The influence of Howard Martin Temin extends far beyond his own lifetime. He fundamentally shaped our understanding of the natural world, and his discoveries and theories remain foundational to this day.

Though he passed away in 1994, his ideas continue to be studied, debated, and built upon by scholars and practitioners worldwide.

Howard Martin Temin remains one of the most celebrated minds to emerge from United States, a testament to the rich intellectual heritage of the region.

Notable Geniuses from United States

United States has produced many remarkable minds. Alongside Howard Martin Temin:

View all geniuses from United States →

Discover more brilliant minds in Science

Explore Science Geniuses

Explore More

Read the full profile of Howard Martin Temin

View Howard Martin Temin's Profile →

Trending Comparisons

Albert EinsteinVSIsaac NewtonEinstein vs NewtonWho ranks higher? →Leonardo Da VinciVSNikola TeslaDa Vinci vs TeslaWho ranks higher? →Marie CurieVSStephen HawkingCurie vs HawkingWho ranks higher? →Ada LovelaceVSAlan TuringLovelace vs TuringWho ranks higher? →Bobby FischerVSJohn Von NeumannFischer vs Von NeumannWho ranks higher? →

Top IQ Rankings

Highest IQ in HistoryTop 100Greatest PhysicistsTop 38Greatest MathematiciansTop 29

Child prodigies

Kim Ung-yongKim Ung-yongTested IQ 210 — Guinness Record Holder, NASA Engineer at 8, PhD…Shakuntala DeviShakuntala DeviMultiplied two 13-digit numbers in her head in 28 secondsStephen WiltshireStephen WiltshireAutistic Savant Drawing Entire Cities from Memory — MBE from…Michael KearneyMichael KearneyBachelor's at 10 Years, 4 Months — Youngest U.S. College…
Child prodigies →

Play & come back tomorrow

Daily Genius Challenge · Number pattern
What comes next? 1, 2, 6, 24, 120, ?
Tap your answer ↓
Which Genius Are You? Free IQ Test