10 People Who Are Working to Change the World
7. Ronald W. Davis
Ronald Wayne Davis is Professor of Biochemistry & Genetics, and Director of the Stanford Genome Technology Center at Stanford University. Davis is a pioneer researcher in biotechnology and molecular genetics, particularly active in human and yeast genomics and the development of new technologies in genomics, with over 30 biotechnology patents.
Davis developed the R-loop technique of electron microscopy for mapping and coding RNAs which led to the discovery of RNA splicing. Davis was the first to demonstrate the use of restriction endonucleases for joining DNA fragments. Davis collaborated in the development of the first DNA microarray for gene expression profiling with Patrick O. Brown, and the gene expression profile of the first complete eukaryotic genome. Davis, with David Botstein, Mark Skolnick, and Ray White, developed the method for constructing a genetic linkage map using restriction fragment length polymorphisms that enabled and led to the Human Genome Project.
Davis is considered as one of the greatest innovators currently working. A substantial number of the major genetic advances of the past 20 years can be traced back to Davis in some way. There is no telling what great contributions he will make in the future.
