Hermann Joseph Muller

Hermann Joseph Muller , 1890-1967, American geneticist and educator, b. New York City, grad. Columbia (B.A., 1910; Ph.D., 1916). A student of Thomas Hunt Morgan , he taught (1915-18) at Rice Institute, Tex., at Columbia (1918-20), and at the Univ. of Texas from 1920 until he became senior geneticist (1933-37) of the Institute of Genetics in Moscow. In 1945 he became professor of zoology at Indiana Univ. His method for recognizing spontaneous gene mutation led to his discovery of a technique for artificially inducing mutations by means of X rays that has since had broad theoretical and practical application. For this discovery he was awarded the 1946 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. His writings include Out of the Night (1935), Genetics, Medicine, and Man (1947; written with others), and Studies in Genetics (1962). He also wrote articles on the biological effects of atomic radiation.

Muller, HermannJoseph (1890–1967)An American geneticist, who was awarded the 1927 American Association for the Advancement of Science Prize and the 1946 Nobel Prize for Medicine for his discovery in 1927 that X-rays increase the rate of gene mutation. His research into mutations and studies of genetic theory contributed greatly to the understanding of heredity and evolution. He taught at the University of Texas, moved to Germany in 1932, and from 1933–7 was senior geneticist at the Institute of Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. Following his return to the United States, he held several posts before being appointed professor of zoology at Indiana University in 1945.

Muller, Hermann Joseph (1890–1967) US geneticist. Muller found that he could artifically increase the rate of mutations in the fruit fly (Drosophila) by the use of X-rays. He thus highlighted the human risk in exposure to radioactive material. He received the 1946 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine.