Born in 1920, Robert Sinsheimer studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received an undergraduate degree in quantitative biology and a PhD in biophysics. He became a professor of biophysics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1957 and chaired Caltech's Division of Biology from 1968 to 1977.
At Caltech, Sinsheimer conducted a series of breakthrough studies that illuminated the viral genetic processes. Sinsheimer and his colleagues also succeeded for the first time in isolating, purifying, and synthetically replicating viral DNA. In 1977, he became a chancellor of the University of California, Santa Cruz where he played a key role in the genesis of the Human Genome Project.
Sinsheimer delivered a series of three Beatty lectures in November 1972 on the theme "Genetic Engineering: Ambush or Opportunity".
Listen to Robert Sinsheimer's first Beatty Lecture (note that a portion of the recorded audio is missing from the start of Part 1):
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5
Audio: McGill University Archives
Image: Caltech Archives & Special Collections
