Severo Ochoa earned the 1959 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his contributions to understanding the biological synthesis of RNA and DNA. His experimental career spanned several countries, shifting from classical physiology to the burgeoning field of biochemistry. He ultimately became a dual citizen of Spain and the United States, leaving a significant imprint on molecular biology.
Formative Years and Education
Born in 1905 in Ḷḷuarca, Spain, Ochoa received his early education at the Instituto San Isidoro. He later attended the Complutense University of Madrid, known then as the Universidad Central. Under the guidance of Juan Negrín, he began his initial research on creatine metabolism. After completing his degree, he sought further academic opportunities, eventually joining Otto Meyerhof’s laboratory at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin-Dahlem, an experience that oriented his career toward enzyme research.
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Ochoa conducted postdoctoral studies at the National Institute for Medical Research in London under Henry Hallett Dale, focusing on glyoxalase. Upon returning to Madrid in 1933, he began investigating glycolysis in heart muscle. However, the Spanish Civil War interrupted his work. By 1936, he decided to leave Spain to preserve his scientific trajectory, embarking on a period of movement that included research positions at Heidelberg University and the University of Oxford.
United States Tenure and Nobel Recognition
In 1940, Ochoa relocated to the United States. He joined the faculty at the University of Washington before transitioning to New York University. Over several decades, he progressed through the academic ranks, ultimately chairing the biochemistry department. His work on nucleic acid synthesis led to the 1959 Nobel Prize. He became a naturalized United States citizen in 1956 and maintained his research into protein synthesis and RNA viruses until 1985.
Later Years and Legacy
After retiring from research in the United States, Ochoa returned to Spain to serve as a science advisor. He was instrumental in the growth of the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center, which now carries his name. Throughout his career, he held memberships in prestigious international organizations, including the Royal Society, the American Philosophical Society, and the Russian Academy of Sciences. He died in Madrid in 1993 and was buried in Ḷḷuarca.
Fast facts
- Born: 1905, Ḷḷuarca
- Died: 1993, Madrid
- Nobel Prize: 1959
- Citizenship: Spain and United States
- Major Fields: Biochemistry and molecular biology
- Notable Employer: New York University
- Burial Site: Ḷḷuarca
Questions readers ask
Did Severo Ochoa have children?
No, he and his wife, Carmen García Cobián, did not have any children.
What was the significance of his 1959 Nobel Prize?
He received the award for his role in discovering the mechanisms behind the biological synthesis of ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid.
Achievements
- Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine — 1959
- National Medal of Science — 1979
- Affiliated with New York University, University of Washington and Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center
- Educated at Universidad Central, Grossman School of Medicine and Complutense University of Madrid
- Worked as physician, university teacher and biochemist
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