Raymond Gesteland on Research at CSHL
  Raymond Gesteland     Biography    
Recorded: 04 Jun 2001

I was working on translation things, and trying to understand the regulation of translation HT4 infected cells. And then got more and more into using translation systems for eukaryotic cells to begin understanding, ultimately, the genes in alden adeno replication. As that new group came, I got more and more interested in adenos. Dan Klessig was a student from Harvard working in my lab – and he clearly was in the middle of that, working closely working with Rich Roberts in identifying the ends of adeno messages that were key to the realization that they all shared a common end. And Dan was involved often in hearing Rich’s excitement and puzzling over what it was that Phil Sharp was onto that he hadn’t been able to figure out yet, the brokers and their pictures at a crucial moment. It was fun to be on the periphery of that biology.

Raymond Gesteland, biologist, has made progress in describing essential mechanisms for controlled gene expression. His research on recoding provides insight into replication of RNA viruses such as HIV and the genetic code. Gesteland also concentrates on ribosome function and response to mRNA signals.

He received a master’s degree in biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin and earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University. After working at Alfred Tissières Laboratory in Geneva, in 1967, Gesteland arrived at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to work under Jim Watson as Assistant Director for Research.

Gesteland is currently Vice President for Research, Distinguished Professor of Human Genetics, and Chairman of the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Utah.