Daniel Nathans

Daniel Nathans 1928-99, American microbiologist, b. Wilmington, Del., M.D. Washington Univ., St. Louis, 1954. He became a professor at Johns Hopkins Univ. in 1962. Nathans worked with Werner Arber and Hamilton Othanel Smith in studying the nature of genes. The trio discovered and used biochemical "scalpels" called restriction enzymes that can cut genetic material into pieces for various studies and applications. The restriction enzyme technique, a fundamental tool in modern genetic research, helped create the biotechnology industry and provided the basis for the Human Genome Project . For their work they received the 1978 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. In 1993, Nathans was awarded the highest scientific award of the United States, the National Medal of Science.

Wildenstein. Dynasty of French art dealers and writers. The family firm was founded in Paris in 1875 by Nathan Wildenstein (1851–1934), and under him became one of the world's leading dealers, specializing mainly in Old Masters. In 1902 he opened a branch of the firm in New York. His son Georges Wildenstein (1892–1963) began working for the firm in 1910 and took over on his father's death. He opened a London branch, in New Bond Street, in 1936. His many books include monographs on Chardin (1933 and 1963), Fragonard (1960), Gauguin (1964), and Ingres (1954). His son Daniel Wildenstein (1917–2001) took over the firm on his father's death. He too was a notable art historian, his major work being a huge catalogue raisonné of Monet's paintings and letters (5 vols., 1974–91). Many of the firm's exhibition catalogues have also been contributions to scholarship and they have often benefited good causes.