Severo Ochoa

Severo Ochoa de Albornoz (September 24, 1905 – November 1, 1993) was a Spanish-American biochemist whose groundbreaking research fundamentally advanced the understanding of molecular biology. Born in Luarca, Spain, Ochoa studied medicine and chemistry before emigrating to the United States, where he became a naturalized citizen. In 1959, he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Arthur Kornberg for their discoveries concerning the biological synthesis of ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid. His laboratory at New York University became a world center for molecular biology research during the 1950s and 1960s. Ochoa's work on the enzyme polynucleotide phosphorylase opened new avenues for understanding genetic information transfer and contributed to the deciphering of the genetic code. Beyond his scientific achievements, Ochoa was a passionate educator and mentor who trained numerous researchers. He returned to Spain late in his career as Director of the Autonomous Center for Molecular Biology. His legacy represents the bridge between Spanish and American science and exemplifies the international nature of twentieth-century scientific progress.