Trefor Jenkins (born 24 July 1932 in

Merthyr Vale Merthyr Vale ( or ) is a linear village and community in the Welsh county borough of Merthyr Tydfil. Lying on the A4054 road it is on the east bank of the River Taff. The community includes the villages of Aberfan on the opposite side of the T ...

) is a human geneticist from

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

, noted for his work on

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 ...

. He is the former dean of the medical school at the

University of Witwatersrand The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (), commonly known as Wits University or Wits, is a multi-campus public research university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg, South Africa. The university has its roots in ...

Early life

Jenkins qualified in medicine at King's College and

Westminster Hospital Westminster Hospital was a hospital in London, England, founded in 1719. In 1834 a medical school attached to the hospital was formally founded. In 1939 a newly built hospital and medical school opened in Horseferry Road, Westminster. In 1994 the ...

in London. He came to Africa as a mine medical officer in

Southern Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia was a self-governing British Crown colony in Southern Africa, established in 1923 and consisting of British South Africa Company (BSAC) territories lying south of the Zambezi River. The region was informally known as South ...

in 1960 where he first encountered

sickle cell anaemia Sickle cell disease (SCD), also simply called sickle cell, is a group of inherited haemoglobin-related blood disorders. The most common type is known as sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia results in an abnormality in the oxygen-carrying ...

which started his interest in genetics.

Work

He contributed significantly to the knowledge of gene markers in different populations through his work on the genetics of

blood group A blood type (also known as a blood group) is based on the presence and absence of antibodies and inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs). These antigens may be proteins, carbohydrates, glycoproteins, or glycoli ...

s and DNA polymorphisms, which helped to clarify the origins of indigenous groups in Africa. He also studied sickle cell anaemia and

albinism Albinism is the congenital absence of melanin in an animal or plant resulting in white hair, feathers, scales and skin and reddish pink or blue eyes. Individuals with the condition are referred to as albinos. Varied use and interpretation of ...

at the molecular level. He has published and collaborated in over 300 papers and two books.

Medical ethics

Jenkins also pioneered an undergraduate teaching project in

Medical Ethics Medical ethics is an applied branch of ethics which analyzes the practice of clinical medicine and related scientific research. Medical ethics is based on a set of values that professionals can refer to in the case of any confusion or conflict. T ...

at the

University of the Witwatersrand The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (), commonly known as Wits University or Wits, is a multi-campus Public university, public research university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg, South Africa. The universit ...

and made considerable contributions in this field, notably in the ethical ramifications of

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 ...

. Jenkins was also a human rights activist, and was one of six doctors, who questioned the ethics of the medical establishment and the previous South African government after the death, in custody, of

Steve Biko Bantu Stephen Biko Order for Meritorious Service, OMSG (18 December 1946 – 12 September 1977) was a South African internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist. Ideologically an African nationalism, African nationalist and ...

, the Black Consciousness leader, in September 1977.

Retirement

He retired from full-time professorial duties in 1997, but continues to teach at Witwatersrand University and work at the Division of Human Genetics, National Health Laboratory Service. Retrieved 8 June 2008. Jenkins headed the Department of Human Genetics, School of Pathology, at the former ''South African Institute for Medical Research'' and at the University of the Witwatersrand, between June 1975 and September 1998. He is now emeritus professor and an honorary professorial research fellow as well as honorary lecturer in

bioethics Bioethics is both a field of study and professional practice, interested in ethical issues related to health (primarily focused on the human, but also increasingly includes animal ethics), including those emerging from advances in biology, me ...

Publications

*
Biko to Guantanamo: 30 years of medical involvement in torture
' David J Nicholl, Trefor Jenkins, Steven H Miles, William Hopkins, Adnan Siddiqui, Frank Boulton, on behalf of 260 other signatories

The Lancet ''The Lancet'' is a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal, founded in England in 1823. It is one of the world's highest-impact academic journals and also one of the oldest medical journals still in publication. The journal publishes ...

- Vol. 370, Issue 9590, 8 September 2007, Page 823 *''The Steve Biko affair'' Trefor Jenkins, GR McLean

- Vol. 364, December 2004, Pages 36–37 *''A Search for Origins : Science, History and South Africa's 'Cradle of Humankind : Phillip Bonner, Trefor Jenkins, Amanda Esterhuysen (April 2008) *''The Peoples of Southern Africa : Studies in Diversity and Disease'' : Trefor Jenkins, Institute for the Study of Man in Africa (January 1988) *''The Peoples of Southern Africa and Their Affinities'' : J.S. Weiner, George T. Nurse, Trefor Jenkins (March 1986) *''Health and the Hunter-Gatherer : Biomedical Studies on the Hunting and Gathering Populations of Southern Africa'' : George T. Nurse, Trefor Jenkins (January 1977)

References

External links

Medical News Today
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jenkins, Trefor Living people South African geneticists 1932 births Steve Biko affair Academic staff of the University of the Witwatersrand Members of the Academy of Science of South Africa Human geneticists