On DNA hybridiziation and modern genomics – Roy John Britten (October 1, 1919 – January 21, 2012)

Roy John Britten died of cancer on January 21, 2012 at the age of 92. He published his last research paper in 2010, around the time of his 91st birthday. His contribution to science seems quiet in this day of banner headlines and stock quotes, but his work lies at the base of much that we do in molecular biology today. His was one of the truly brilliant minds working at the time that molecular biology came of age and beyond. His path through the world was unique in so many ways.