Science and Serendipity Discovery of Cyclins Science and Serendipity

WHO? Tim Hunt (British biochemist) Watch interview

WHEN? Tim Hunt discovered the first cyclin molecule in the early 1980s. 2001 Nobel Prize

WHAT? Dr. Hunt was studying embryo development in sea urchins. He found that some proteins cycled in concentration as the cells were dividing. He named the proteins “cyclins” and discovered that cyclins bind to CDK molecules, thereby regulating the CDK activity and selecting the proteins to be phosphorylated.

Role of Serendipity Discovering how the cell cycle is controlled was not the original intent of Dr. Hunt’s experiments. Serendipity often has a role in major discoveries in science. The scientist’s role in these cases is to be observant and curious about what was happening. What if Alexander Fleming hadn’t noticed the effect of mold on his bacteria covered Petri dishes? What if Tim Hunt hadn’t noticed that a type of protein