James E. Womack (March 30, 1941 – August 13, 2023 ) was an American

biologist A biologist is a scientist who conducts research in biology. Biologists are interested in studying life on Earth, whether it is an individual Cell (biology), cell, a multicellular organism, or a Community (ecology), community of Biological inter ...

and a professor at

Texas A&M University Texas A&M University (Texas A&M, A&M, TA&M, or TAMU) is a public university, public, Land-grant university, land-grant, research university in College Station, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of ...

Birth and education

James E. Womack was born on March 30, 1941, in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. He graduated with a BS in Mathematics Ed from

Abilene Christian University Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a Private university, private Christian research university in Abilene, Texas, United States. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R2 (High Research Spending and Doctorate Production) institutio ...

in 1964. After completing his BS, he went to

Oregon State University Oregon State University (OSU) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate degree programs and a variety of graduate and doctor ...

and completed his PhD in Genetics in 1968.

Academic career

After completing his PhD, he became an assistant professor of Biology at

. He was an assistant professor of Biology from 1968 to 1971 and an associate professor of Biology from 1971 to 1973 at

. Since 1973, he has been a professor at

Research

James E. Womack is known for conducting pioneering research in the cattle genome. He was responsible for the development of a whole genome cattle-hamster radiation hybrid (RH) panel. This work fueled a new thrust in cattle genomics and comparative gene mapping. RH mapping is an effective tool for building ordered maps of conserved sequences, derived from genes, thus integrating linkage and physical maps of mammalian chromosomes. He has taken special interest in assisting the careers of young scientists, particularly those in developing countries. Many of his students have gone on to positions of international leadership in animal genomics.

Awards and honors

James E. Womack has received several awards and honours for his research. In 1993, he was awarded the CIBA Prize for Research in Animal Health. In 1999, he was elected to the

National Academy of Sciences The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, NGO, non-governmental organization. NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the ...

. In 2001, he was awarded the

Wolf Prize in Agriculture The Wolf Prize in Agriculture is awarded annually since 1978 by the Wolf Foundation in Israel. It is one of the six Wolf Prizes, alongside those for Wolf Prize in Chemistry, chemistry, Wolf Prize in Mathematics, mathematics, Wolf Prize in Medicine, ...

along with Roger N. Beachy of the Danforth Plant Science Center "for the use of recombinant DNA technology, to revolutionize plant and animal sciences, paving the way for applications to neighboring fields".The Wolf Prize in Agriculture
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Notes

References

* CV of James E. Womac

* James Womack To Receive 2001 Wolf Priz

* The Wolf Prize in Agriculture in 200

{{DEFAULTSORT:Womack, James E. 1941 births 2023 deaths 21st-century American biologists Abilene Christian University alumni Oregon State University alumni Abilene Christian University faculty Texas A&M University faculty Wolf Prize in Agriculture laureates Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences