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. 2010 Sep;105(3):209-12.
doi: 10.1007/s11120-010-9592-2. Epub 2010 Sep 2.

Last days in the old radiation laboratory (ORL), Berkeley, California, 1954

Andrew A Benson  1
Affiliations

Last days in the old radiation laboratory (ORL), Berkeley, California, 1954

Andrew A Benson. Photosynth Res. 2010 Sep.

Abstract

Govindjee, the founding editor of the Historical Corner of Photosynthesis Research, invited me 3 years ago to tell the story of why I left Melvin Calvin's laboratory in the mid 1950s long before the 1961 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Calvin for the path of carbon in photosynthesis. I have already written my scientific perspective on this topic (see Benson (Photosynth Res 73:29-49, 2002); also see Bassham (Photosynth Res 76:35-52, 2003) as he was also a major player in this research). Here, I present my recollections of my last days in the old radiation laboratory (ORL) at Berkeley, California. References have been added by Govindjee for the benefit of the readers.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Left to right Jacques Mayaudon, Melvin Calvin, and Andrew A. Benson (the author). Photo taken in 1954, University of California, Berkeley, California. Photo by Paul M. Hayes
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

    1. Barltrop A, Hayes PM, Calvin M. The chemistry of 1, 2-dithiolane (trimethylene disulfide) as a model for the primary quantum conversion act in photosynthesis. J Am Chem Soc. 1954;76:4348–4367. doi: 10.1021/ja01646a029. - DOI
    1. Bassham JA. Mapping the carbon reduction cycle: a personal retrospective. Photosynth Res. 2003;76:35–52. doi: 10.1023/A:1024929725022. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Bassham J, Benson A, Calvin M. The path of carbon in photosynthesis. J Biol Chem. 1950;185(2):781–787. - PubMed
    1. Bassham JA, Benson AA, Kay LD, Harris AZ, Wilson AT, Calvin M. The path of carbon in photosynthesis XXI. The cyclic regeneration of carbon dioxide acceptor. J Am Chem Soc. 1954;76:1760–1770. doi: 10.1021/ja01636a012. - DOI
    1. Benson AA. Saga of a great theory of photosynthesis. ASPB (American Society of Plant Biology) News Lett. 1995;22(6):5–6.

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