Har Gobind Khorana 1922–2011

Gobind Khorana was a scientist who traversed boundaries, both scientifically and culturally. He pioneered the use of concepts and tools from chemistry and physics to tackle fundamental questions of biology. In particular, he helped to decipher how RNA encodes for the synthesis of protein, research that earned him the Nobel Prize in Medicine with Marshall Nirenberg and Robert Holley in 1968. Although deeply modest and unassuming, Gobind would often remark, “I only work on big problems.” Indeed, only such challenges were worthy of the extraordinary intensity, creativity, and focus that Gobind brought to a question.