Dorothy Cowfoot was born on May 12th 1910 in Cairo. She had most of her secondary education in Beccles, Suffolk, England and subsequently joined Sommerville College at Oxford in 1928.

At that time when very few women studied science she took her basic degree in chemistry While studying in the department of mineralogy and crystallography, she employed the physical science of X-ray crystallography to aid her in determining the structural arrangement of atoms in simple salts and minerals such as thallium dialkyl - halides . This was the first of what would be many X-ray studies.

In 1933 Miss.Crowfoot began working with J.D.Bernarl on her doctorate at Cambridge. During her research Miss.Crowfoot was able to determine the structural layout of atoms and the over all molecular shape of numerous molecules. This information contributed to molecular biological activity. It was then that she was involved, along with Bernal recording the first X-ray diffraction pattern from a protein (pepsin) crystal. This marked the beginning of macromolecular crystallography which dominates structural biology today.

In 1934 upon her return to Oxford University she crystallized and X-ray photographed insulin. This was a major achievement since she completed the crystallization and photographs on her own. This analysis was completed at a time when crystal structures of even simple molecules was a great challenge. While working at Oxford University she was barred from research meetings of the faculty Chemistry Club because she was a woman. Later her talent and perseverance prevailed and she won over the students and faculty members.

In 1937 she obtained her doctorate from Cambridge University. Also in this year she married Dr.Thomas Hodgkin . Between 1942 and 1949 Dorothy Hodgkin began work on structural analysis of penicillin. After the discovery of penicillin some of the best chemists were trying to determine its chemical composition , when she amazed them all by using X-ray analysis, but not chemistry to determine its structural arrangement. While completing her penicillin research, Dr.Hodgkin was named a fellow of the Royal Society in 1947.

Between 1948 and 1956 she continued to study at Oxford University and Cambridge University. She became a fellow and a chemistry tutor at Somerville at Oxford. As a tutor she encouraged and guided her students towards interesting results with crystal structures. One of her pupils who became well known not for her work in chemistry but for her political work was Margaret Thatcher.

In 1955 she took her first X-ray diffraction photos of cyanocobalamin crystals, more commonly known as vitamin B-12. This organic molecule was four times larger than penicillin and until this point normal chemical methods had revealed little about the structure of the central part of this molecule. Dr.Hodgkin concluded that vitamin B -12 is a porphyrin, a type of molecule related to chlorophyll, but with a cobalt center. Dr.Hodgkin and her colleagues found that the molecule was spherical in form, contained chemical features not seen before, and had a unique chemical structure. It was later determined that this molecule was not the naturally active vitamin and in 1961 they determined the structure of the natural vitamin. This discovery later allowed for the vitamin to be synthesized and used in the treatment and prevention of pernicious anemia.

In 1956 she received the royal medal. In 1958 she became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1964 she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. This was awarded for her research on the structure of vitamin B-12 and she became the 3rd woman to ever win the nobel prize in chemistry. The other two were Madam Curie and her daughter Irene Joliot-Curie.

In 1965, Queen Elizabeth II conferred on her the Order of Merit. This is Britain's highest royal order. Dr.Hodgkin was the first woman to be bestowed this honour since Florence Nightingale.

In 1969 Dr.Hodgkin completed the deciphering of the three dimensional structure of the protein insulin. This discovery led to an understanding of how it helps to lessen the symptoms of diabetes. This research nearly took 34 years to be completed.

In 1970 she was elected the Chancellor of Bristol University . She supported the establishment of the Hodgkin Scholarship which aided students from 3rd world countries and founded Hodgkin House which accomodated overseas students. Both were named for her late husband who was a specialist in African Studies. From 1972 to 1978 Dr.Hodgkin was President of the International Union of Crystallography. In 1976 she became a member of the USSR Academy of Sciences. In 1977 she officially retired but continued to work on her causes for world peace.

She has always been a champion of world peace and disarmament. Not only had she been a major contributor within her own field of expertise, she tried to promote international goodwill and understanding between all of the people throughout the world. She has been described

by colleagues as being a "warm, simple, affectionate, and caring" human being.

In 1982 she was awarded the Lomonosov Gold Medal because of her high standing within the Soviet Scientific Community and later in 1987 she was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize for her commitment for the Soviet cause and her efforts towards easing tension between the East and the West. In 1988 she became a honorary fellow at the Bristol University.

Dr.Hodgkin travelled extensively and touched every possible corner of the world throughout her life despite her lifelong struggles with rheumatoid arthritis that did not respond to treatment. This eventualy crippled her hands and feet, but despite these she continued to travel and participate in her causes until the very end. In July of 1994, Dr.Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin died from stroke at home in Shipston-on -Stour , England.

It is difficult to adequately describe her legendary achievement but still harder to describe her personality in a few words. To her students and her colleagues, she was a teacher, mother, friend and guide, rolled into one.

Of Mahathma Gandhi, Einstein said thus: "Generations to come, it may be , will hardly believe that a man like him in flesh and blood, ever walked upon this earth." As a student of chemistry may I borrow the very same words to express my sentiments of and respect for Dorothy Hodgkin.

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