Lejeune, Jerome-Jean-Louis-Marie

▪ 1995

      French geneticist (b. June 13, 1926, Montrouge, France—d. April 3, 1994, Paris, France), identified (1959) the human chromosomal abnormality linked to Down syndrome, or trisomy 21, one of the most common forms of mental retardation and the first chromosomal disorder to be positively identified. Lejeune's discovery marked a turning point in the new science of cytogenetics (the scientific study of genetic variations at the chromosomal level). Lejeune attended the University of Paris (M.D., 1951; Ph.D., 1960). In the early 1950s he began research into inheritance patterns of Down syndrome in twins at the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Paris. In 1959, just three years after the correct number of human chromosomes (46; 23 pairs) had been discovered, he demonstrated that children with Down syndrome had an extra chromosome 21, making three where there would normally be a pair. The term trisomy was coined to describe this condition. He later identified several other chromosomal aberrations, notably the cause of the syndrome known as cri du chat, which is associated with severe mental retardation. He served as director of research at the CNRS from 1963 and held the post of professor of fundamental genetics at the Faculty of Medicine in Paris from 1964. A devout antiabortion activist, Lejeune was named to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in 1974, and shortly before his death he was appointed by Pope John Paul II to head the newly formed Pontifical Academy for Life.

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