16. Summary of the lesson "The Making of a Scientist"

The lesson "Making of a Scientist" is written by Robert W. Peterson. The lesson is about a renowned scientist, Richard Ebright, who was a bright yet curious child from the early years of his life. When he was in second grade, he collected 25 species of butterflies in his home town. His mother always supported his endeavours and gave him a book titled "The Travels of Monarch X." The book discussed how monarch butterflies migrate to Central America, which piqued his interest in learning more about the species. Soon, he participated in the county science fair and understood that he needed to do something exceptional. He continued his efforts until he earned a place in the fair by conducting valid experiments. Later, he attempted to discover the disease produced by a virus that each year virtually killed the majority of monarch caterpillars. He subsequently presented this experiment at the county science fair, where he won the year's competition. Ebright then began his scientific investigation into the finding of a mystery insect hormone, which led to the development of a brand-new theory on cell life. As a junior in high school, he effectively conducted studies and established the molecular structure of hormones. One fine day, while he was checking the X-ray photos of the chemical structure of a hormone, he understood how the cell could 'read' the blueprint of its DNA. To demonstrate how DNA works, Ebright and his college roommate, James R. Wong, drew illustrations and built plastic models of molecules. In addition to scientific work, he took an interest in debate and public speaking and was also a good canoeist and an all-rounder outdoor person. He always had a competitive nature and zeal to give his best to everything.