口服避孕药虽不治病救人,却被誉为影响人类进程的重要发现。福布斯(Forbes)杂志在2007年曾将发明口服避孕药的平卡斯团队中的三人与万维网、DNA双螺旋、芯片设计、磁共振成像、星球大战拍摄技巧、集装箱等的发明者,称为改变世界的15人。在创造这些奇迹的“巨人”中,就有一位来自中国的科学家。
张民觉(图源:onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
“避孕药之父”和“避孕药之母”
卡尔·杰拉西(图源:Wikipedia)
平卡斯的团队中,有三人被称为“避孕药之父”:平卡斯,全面协调,对外联系和整体运作;约翰·洛克(JohnRock,1890-1984)负责药物临床实验和推广;张民觉(MinChuehChang,1908-1991)完成动物实验和药物的筛选。
平卡斯团队:平卡斯(左),张民觉(中),洛克(右)(图源:ForbesMay24,2007)
张民觉来自中国。
1908年10月10号,张民觉(字幼先)出生于中国岚县敦厚乡(今王狮乡)艾蒿沟,1929年太原第一师范肄业考取北京清华大学动物心理系,1933年获清华大学动物心理学学士,毕业后留校任教,1938年通过中英庚子赔款留学考试后前往英国,1941年获剑桥大学博士学位。1945到美国,在那里一直生活到1991年去世。
青年张民觉(图源:Wikipedia)
师承巨匠
缘遇平卡斯
20世纪50年代WFEB指示牌(图源:Wikipedia)
第一个大满贯——发现“精子获能机理”
第二个大满贯——参与开发“口服避孕药”
桑格(图源:Wikipedia)
凯瑟琳(图源:Wikipedia)
第三个大满贯——完成“体外受精”研究
传奇的一生
叶落归根
平卡斯、洛克和张民觉各自签名的照片(图源:Wikipedia)
左:张民觉之墓;中:山景公墓;右:平卡斯之墓
左:张民觉家乡墓碑(图源:戴中刚摄影);右:张民觉在岚县广场的雕像(图源:百度照片)
左:WFEB初期中心办公室兼实验室;中:张民觉楼门厅;右:张民觉楼
在创造这些奇迹的“巨人”中,就有来自中国的张民觉。
参考资料
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