Theophilus Painter | |
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Born | Theophilus Shickel Painter August 22, 1889 |
Died | October 5, 1969 | (aged 80)
Known for | Sex-determination genes X and Y |
Awards | National Academy of Sciences, American Philosophical Society, Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Zoology, genetics |
Institutions | University of Texas |
Theophilus Shickel Painter (August 22, 1889 – October 5, 1969) was an American zoologist best known for his work on the structure and function of chromosomes, especially the sex-determination genes X and Y in humans.[1][2] He was the first to discover that human sex was determined by an X/Y heteromorphic chromosomal pair mechanism.[3][4][5] He also carried out work in identifying genes in fruit flies (Drosophila).[6] His work exploited the giant polytene chromosomes in the salivary glands of Drosophila and other Dipteran larvae.[7] Painter was elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences in 1938 and the American Philosophical Society in 1939.[8][9]