Robert A. Weinberg

views updated

Robert A. Weinberg

1942

American biologist and cancer researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology who conducted important research involving the genetic manipulation of cells in mice. In 1999 Weinberg created a cancerous human cell by genetically altering three genes in a healthy cell. Oncologists (cancer experts) believe that this breakthrough could advance scientific understanding of the causes of different kinds of cancer, as well as promote additional research into new therapies that target specific genetic problems in humans.