Melvin Calvin
Biochemist who discovered the Calvin cycle.
Melvin Ellis Calvin was an American biochemist best known for his role in discovering the Calvin cycle, the process by which plants convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates during photosynthesis. He spent most of his career at the University of California, Berkeley, and was awarded the 1961 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on carbon dioxide assimilation in plants. Calvin was one of the Nobel laureates mentored by G. N. Lewis at Berkeley, as noted in the source.
- known_for
- Discovery of the Calvin cycle (Calvin–Benson–Bassham cycle)
Lore & Background
Melvin Calvin was born in St. His family moved to Detroit, where his parents ran a grocery store. At Berkeley, Calvin led the Bio-Organic Chemistry group at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory. He also designed the circular 'Roundhouse' laboratory to foster collaboration among scientists from diverse fields. Later in his career, he studied oil-producing plants as renewable energy sources and wrote a book on the chemical evolution of life.
Reader's Guide
Melvin Calvin's significance lies in his central role in elucidating the Calvin cycle, a fundamental process of photosynthesis that converts atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds. Beyond photosynthesis, Calvin explored renewable energy from plants and the chemical origins of life, contributing to multiple scientific fields. His legacy includes not only the cycle that bears his name but also his influence on scientific management and public service, including roles with the American Chemical Society and NASA.
Did You Know?
- Melvin Calvin was awarded the 1961 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on carbon dioxide assimilation in plants.
- Calvin was one of the Nobel laureates mentored by G. N. Lewis at the University of California, Berkeley.
- He designed the circular 'Roundhouse' laboratory at Berkeley to encourage collaboration among scientists from different fields.
- Calvin served as president of the American Chemical Society, the American Society of Plant Physiology, and the Pacific Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
- He chaired the Committee on Science and Public Policy for the National Academy of Sciences and collaborated with NASA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Melvin Calvin?
Melvin Ellis Calvin (1911–1997) was an American biochemist who spent the bulk of his professional life at UC Berkeley. He is best remembered for mapping how green plants fix atmospheric carbon dioxide into sugar molecules during photosynthesis.
What is the Calvin cycle?
The Calvin cycle, also called the Calvin–Benson–Bassham cycle, is the sequence of enzymatic reactions by which plants convert CO₂ into carbohydrate. Calvin's lab identified the step-by-step pathway in the 1940s and 1950s by tracking radioactive carbon-14 through photosynthetic intermediates.
What Nobel Prize did Melvin Calvin win?
He received the 1961 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work elucidating carbon-dioxide assimilation in photosynthetic organisms. The committee specifically cited his isotopic-labeling experiments that revealed the carbon-fixation pathway.
Where did Melvin Calvin conduct most of his research?
He was a long-standing faculty member at the University of California, Berkeley, where his laboratory became a leading center for studying carbon metabolism in plants. Nearly all of his landmark photosynthesis work was carried out in that Berkeley setting.
When was Melvin Calvin born and when did he die?
Calvin was born on April 8, 1911, and died on January 8, 1997. His career spanned much of the 20th century, during which he fundamentally reshaped the field of plant biochemistry.
More in Physicists And Chemists Of The 20Th Century 1-19
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