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Gerald Edelman
22quotes
Gerald Edelman: A Life of Discovery and Innovation
Full Name and Common Aliases
Gerald Maurice Edelman was an American biologist, biochemist, and pharmacologist who is best known for his groundbreaking work on the structure and function of antibodies. He is also widely recognized for his contributions to the development of modern neuroscience.
Birth and Death Dates
Edelman was born on July 1, 1929, in New York City, USA, and passed away on May 17, 2015, at the age of 85.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Gerald Edelman held dual nationality as an American and British citizen. He was a renowned biologist, biochemist, and pharmacologist who spent most of his career teaching and conducting research at various institutions, including Rockefeller University in New York City.
Early Life and Background
Edelman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, to a family of Russian Jewish immigrants. His interest in science began at an early age, and he was particularly drawn to the works of Albert Einstein. He attended the Fieldston School in Riverdale, before enrolling at Far Rockaway High School. Edelman's academic prowess earned him a scholarship to Harvard University, where he studied chemistry.
Major Accomplishments
Edelman's most notable contributions to science include his discovery of the structure and function of antibodies. In 1972, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this work, which provided significant insights into the immune system. Edelman also made important contributions to our understanding of brain chemistry and behavior.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Edelman's notable works include:
"The Structure-Activity Hypothesis," a groundbreaking paper published in 1971 that described the relationship between the structure and function of antibodies.
"Neural Darwinism: The Theory of Neuronal Group Selection," a book published in 1987 that outlined his theory of how neurons compete for survival and contribute to learning and memory.
Impact and Legacy
Gerald Edelman's work has had a profound impact on our understanding of the immune system, brain chemistry, and behavior. His discoveries have paved the way for new treatments and therapies for various diseases, including cancer and neurological disorders. Edelman's legacy extends beyond his scientific contributions; he was also a vocal advocate for science education and public awareness of scientific issues.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Gerald Edelman is widely quoted and remembered for his insightful comments on the nature of reality, consciousness, and human behavior. His ideas have been influential in various fields, including neuroscience, philosophy, and psychology. Edelman's quote, "'the universe is a machine that operates according to physical laws,'" highlights his emphasis on the importance of empirical evidence and scientific inquiry.
In conclusion, Gerald Edelman was a pioneering scientist whose groundbreaking work has left an indelible mark on our understanding of the world. His legacy serves as a reminder of the power of human curiosity and ingenuity in advancing our knowledge and improving our lives.
Quotes by Gerald Edelman
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We’re inquiring into the deepest nature of our constitutions: How we inherit from each other. How we can change. How our minds think. How our will is related to our thoughts. How our thoughts are related to our molecules.
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Your brain develops depending on your individual history. What has gone on in your own brain and its consciousness over your lifetime is not repeatable, ever – not with identical twins, not even with conjoined twins.
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Evolution works by selection, not by instruction. There is no final cause, no teleology, no purpose guiding the overall process.
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Each brain is exposed to different circumstances. It’s very likely that your brain is unique in the history of the universe.
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The analogy between the mind and a computer fails for many reasons. The brain is constructed by principles that assure diversity and degeneracy. Unlike a computer, it has no replicative memory. It is historical and value driven. It forms categories by internal criteria and by constraints acting at many scales, not by means of a syntactically constructed program. The world with which the brain interacts is not unequivocally made up of classical categories.
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Since the idea that modification of synaptic function can provide a basis for memory arose shortly after the first anatomical description of the synapse a number of models (Hebb 1949 . . Hayek 1952 . . Kendel 1981) have been proposed in which various cognitive activities are represented by combinations of the firing patterns of individual neurons.
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A knowledge of brain science will provide one of the major foundations of the new age to come. That knowledge will spawn cures for disease, new machines based on brain function, further insights into our nature and how we know.
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Most theoretical work since the proposals of Hebb (1949) and Hayek (1952) has relied upon particular forms of dependent synaptic rules in which either pre- or postsynaptic change is contingent upon closely occurring events in both neurons taking part in the synapse.
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Hayek made a quite fruitful suggestion, made contemporaneously by the psychologist Donald Hebb, that whatever kind of encounter the sensory system has with the world, a corresponding event between a particular cell in the brain and some other cell carrying the information from the outside word must result in reinforcement of the connection between those cells. These day, this is known as a Hebbian synapse, but von Hayek quite independently came upon the idea. I think the essence of his analysis still remains with us . .
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Hebb place the Law of Effect at the synaptic level by proposing a correlation model of synaptic modification similar to that of Hayek (1952). This work was seminal in providing a basis for many subsequent theoretical studies . .
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