Christopher J. Chetsanga (born 1935 in Murehwa,

Rhodesia Rhodesia ( , ; ), officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state, unrecognised state in Southern Africa that existed from 1965 to 1979. Rhodesia served as the ''de facto'' Succession of states, successor state to the ...

) is a prominent

Zimbabwe file:Zimbabwe, relief map.jpg, upright=1.22, Zimbabwe, relief map Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Bots ...

an scientist who is a member of the

African Academy of Sciences The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) is a non-aligned, non-political, not-for-profit, pan-African learned society formed in 1985. The AAS elects fellows ( FAAS) and affiliates. The AAS also awards the Obasanjo Prize for Scientific Discovery a ...

and

The World Academy of Sciences The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries (TWAS) is a North–south research partnerships, merit-based science academy established for developing countries, uniting more than 1,400 scientists in some 1 ...

. He discovered two

enzymes An enzyme () is a protein that acts as a biological catalyst by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as pro ...

involved in

DNA repair DNA repair is a collection of processes by which a cell (biology), cell identifies and corrects damage to the DNA molecules that encode its genome. A weakened capacity for DNA repair is a risk factor for the development of cancer. DNA is cons ...

. He has also held various academic administrative posts like

Vice-Chancellor A vice-chancellor (commonly called a VC) serves as the chief executive of a university in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, other Commonwealth of Nati ...

Director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

and

Dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean * Dean Sw ...

Biography

Chetsanga was born in Murewa, Zimbabwe on 22 August 1935, and was baptised in 1948. In his youth, he was educated at Nhowe Mission, and went on to study at

University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California), is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Berkeley, California, United States. Founded in 1868 and named after t ...

where he received his BSc in 1965. Chetsanga also studied for a period at

Pepperdine University Pepperdine University () is a private university, private Christianity, Christian research university affiliated with the Churches of Christ, with its main campus in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Pepperdine's main campus consists ...

. In 1969, he received his MSc and

PhD A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...

biochemistry Biochemistry, or biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. A sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology, biochemistry may be divided into three fields: structural biology, enzymology, a ...

and

molecular biology Molecular biology is a branch of biology that seeks to understand the molecule, molecular basis of biological activity in and between Cell (biology), cells, including biomolecule, biomolecular synthesis, modification, mechanisms, and interactio ...

from

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...

before becoming a post doctoral

fellow A fellow is a title and form of address for distinguished, learned, or skilled individuals in academia, medicine, research, and industry. The exact meaning of the term differs in each field. In learned society, learned or professional society, p ...

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

between 1969 and 1972. Between 1972 and 1983 he became a professor at the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

, then in 1983 he left to become the senior lecturer in Biochemistry for

University of Zimbabwe The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) is a public university in Harare, Zimbabwe. It was opened in 1952 as the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, and was initially affiliated with the University of London. It was later renamed the Univers ...

. In 1990, President

Robert Mugabe Robert Gabriel Mugabe (; ; 21 February 1924 – 6 September 2019) was a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and then as President from 1987 to 2017. He served as Leader of th ...

awarded him ''President’s Award for Distinguished Contribution to Science and Technology''. Has also awarded the Order of the Star of Zimbabwe. He is presently the vice chancellor at

Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) was established in 2012 in Bindura, Zimbabwe. It is the first Pentecostal University in Zimbabwe. References External links Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University website Universities and colleges in ...

. In 2004, when the

Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences The Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences (ZAS) is a national academy of sciences in Zimbabwe, formed in 2004 by the Research Council of Zimbabwe (RCZ). It addresses subjects such as tropical resources, ecology, and environmental and climate studies. Th ...

was formed, Chetsanga was appointed the first president of the academy. Chetsanga advocated the use of genetically modified food sources as a possible solution for food shortages in Africa in 2020.

Scientific Achievements

Chetsanga has discovered two

involved in the repair of damaged

DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid (; DNA) is a polymer composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix. The polymer carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of al ...

: firstly, formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase, which removes damaged

7-methylguanine 7-Methylguanine is a modified purine nucleobase. It is a methylated version of guanine. The 7-methylguanine nucleoside is called 7-methylguanosine. However, the free 7-methylguanine base is not involved in the synthesis of nucleotides and not inc ...

from DNA (1979), and secondly,

purine imidazole-ring cyclase The enzyme purine imidazole-ring cyclase (EC 4.3.2.4) catalyzes the chemical reaction :DNA 4,6-diamino-5-formamidopyrimidine \rightleftharpoons DNA adenine + H2O This enzyme belongs to the family of lyases, specifically amidine lyases. The syste ...

, which re-closes imidazole rings of

guanine Guanine () (symbol G or Gua) is one of the four main nucleotide bases found in the nucleic acids DNA and RNA, the others being adenine, cytosine, and thymine ( uracil in RNA). In DNA, guanine is paired with cytosine. The guanine nucleoside ...

and

adenine Adenine (, ) (nucleoside#List of nucleosides and corresponding nucleobases, symbol A or Ade) is a purine nucleotide base that is found in DNA, RNA, and Adenosine triphosphate, ATP. Usually a white crystalline subtance. The shape of adenine is ...

damaged by x-irradiation (1985). According to Chetsanga, his research focus in his scientific career has been on DNA and RNA structural and functional details as they relate to cellular metabolism and disease development.

Select publications

* * *

References

External links

Brief Curriculum Vitae, University of Zimbabwe, Department of Biochemistry
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chetsanga, Christopher Zimbabwean scientists 1935 births Living people Biochemists People from Mashonaland East Province University of California alumni Pepperdine University alumni University of California, Berkeley alumni University of Toronto alumni University of Michigan faculty Academic staff of the University of Zimbabwe Fellows of the African Academy of Sciences Fellows of the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences