Frederick Hopkins
Frederick Hopkins was an influential English biochemist born on June 20, 1861, in Eastbourne, Sussex, and he passed away on May 16, 1947, in Cambridge. He significantly contributed to the field of biochemistry by proposing the existence of "accessory factors," which we now recognize as vitamins essential for human health. Alongside his contemporary Christiaan Eijkman, Hopkins was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1929 for their pioneering work on vitamins. His research accomplishments include the discovery of the amino acid tryptophan, the isolation of glutathione, and the identification of the enzyme xanthine oxidase.
Hopkins had a strong academic background, excelling in sciences from a young age, and published his first scientific article on entomology as a teenager. After a brief stint as an insurance clerk, he returned to academia, earning a medical degree and later teaching physiology and toxicology. His contributions laid the foundation for future research in biochemistry and influenced many subsequent scientists. Throughout his career, he received numerous accolades, including knighthood in 1925 and other prestigious awards, reflecting his status in the scientific community.
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Frederick Hopkins
- Born: June 20, 1861; Eastbourne, Sussex, England
- Died: May 16, 1947; Cambridge, England
Overview
English biochemist who postulated the idea of “accessory factors,” or vitamins, contained in foods. Frederick Hopkins, an English biochemist, believed that some foods contained “accessory factors,” or vitamins, that were necessary for the functions of the human body. With Christiaan Eijkman, another researcher in biochemistry, Hopkins was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1929 for their discovery of several vitamins. In particular, Hopkins was credited with discovering growth-stimulating vitamins, yet, he was also responsible for several other discoveries.
Hopkins had childhood interests in literary and scientific topics, and he excelled in many school subjects, especially chemistry. As a teenager, he scored well on an examination at the College of Preceptors, which yielded him a prize in science. At the age of seventeen, he completed his secondary education and went on to publish his first scientific article (on the beetle) in The Entomologist.
After his early successes in academia, Hopkins worked as an insurance clerk for a short time. During his work in the field, he was assigned to work with a chemist, which ultimately led Hopkins back to life in scientific research after a few years of taking part in several important legal cases. He eventually obtained a bachelor’s degree in science in his early twenties, and he earned a medical degree from Guy’s Hospital in London when he was in his early thirties. After completing his medical training, Hopkins taught physiology and toxicology at his medical alma mater for a few years and then transferred to Cambridge to study in the field that eventually became known as biochemistry (or the chemical aspects of physiology).
Hopkins had several successes in research. He is known for discovering the amino acid tryptophan and elucidating its structure in 1901. Hopkins is also credited with isolating glutathione, which has been shown to play a role in cell multiplication. Additionally, he discovered the enzyme xanthine oxidase and worked extensively studying uric acid. His pioneering efforts laid the groundwork for many other notable scientists, including Nobel laureates. Hopkins was knighted in 1925 and received many other prestigious awards during his career, including a Royal Medal in 1918, a Copley Medal in 1926, and admission into the Order of Merit in 1935.
Bibliography
"Frederick Gowland Hopkins Department of Biochemistry." Department of Biochemistry, 2023, www.bioc.cam.ac.uk/about-us/history/nobel-prizes/frederick-gowland-hopkins. Accessed 7 Sept. 2024.
Gilman, Sander L. "Hopkins, Frederick Gowland." In Diets and Dieting: A Cultural Encyclopedia. New York: Routledge, 2008.
Hopkins, Frederick. "Feeding Experiments Illustrating the Importance of Accessory Food Factors in Normal Dietaries." Journal of Physiology, vol. 44, 1912, pp. 425-460.
"Hopkins, Sir Frederick Gowland." Britannica Biographies, Mar. 2012, p. 1. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=apr&AN=32413203&site=ehost-live. Accessed 7 Sept. 2024.
"Sir Frederick Hopkins – Biographical." NobelPrize.org, www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1929/hopkins/biographical. Accessed 7 Sept. 2024.
Thomas, Nigel J. T. "The Life and Scientific Work of Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins." In The Biographical Encyclopedia of Scientists, edited by Richard Olson and Roger Smith. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 1998.