Linus Pauling and Biology at Caltech

Abstract

When Linus returned from Europe in 1927 there was still no Biology Division at Caltech. Apart from his early learning of dietary fats, carbohydrates and proteins in a Domestic Science course at Oregon State, he had evinced little interest in Biology. During his "first five years in science" (Nature, 1 September 1994), he says, "I learned a great deal about modern physics, about mathematics, and about chemistry, especially chemical thermodynamics (which did not appeal to me) and statistical mechanics, which I liked very much and still like." No mention of Biology. It was, in fact, essentially a void at Caltech, suspected by many of being a borderline science at best, perhaps not a science at all. When Linus died in 1994, he was recognized as one of a few pioneers of molecular biology. He had played a key role in the establishment of strength in this area at Caltech, and his interactions with Biology Division people, especially George Beadle and Max Delbruck, in every aspect of the science from initial creative concepts to the secure funding of research, are legendary. This brief talk will attempt to trace, at least partly in Linus Pauling's own words, the transition in Biology at Caltech to which he so greatly contributed.

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