Ray Wu

Ray Wu was a Chinese-born American geneticist who made important contributions to science. He served as the Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor of Molecular Genetics and Biology at Cornell University.

In 1970, Wu developed the first method for DNA sequencing. This happened before similar methods were created by Frederick Sanger in 1975 and by Walter Gilbert in 1977. Wu's work laid the foundation for the sequencing techniques we use today. His discoveries helped scientists understand genes and genetic information in living things.

Biography

Ray Jui Wu was born in Beijing in 1928 to Hsien and Daisy Yen Wu, two biologists who did important work in China. He grew up to become a famous scientist in the United States, where he studied biochemistry at the University of Pennsylvania and earned his Ph.D. in 1955.

Wu made big discoveries in understanding the instructions inside our cells, called DNA. He helped start the field of plant genetic engineering and created a program called CUSBEA to help students. He worked for many years at Cornell University and gave money to help students study biology. One of his students, Jack W. Szostak, later won a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2009.

Ray Wu Memorial Fund

The Ray Wu Memorial Fund is a nonprofit organization. It gives out an annual prize called the Ray Wu Prize for Excellence in Life Sciences. This prize aims to inspire young Ph.D. students in Asia to become future leaders in life sciences.

Ray Wu Award

The Ray Wu Award was created to honor Dr. Ray Wu. He was a great scientist and also helped train many new scientists from China. The award is given to members of the Chinese Biological Investigators Society who have made important discoveries in life sciences or helped grow science in China.