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Biographical Memoirs Volume 85 (2004) / Chapter Skim
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Edwin Theodore Mertz
Pages 184-195

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From page 185...
... of the National Academy of Sciences. He is best remembered for codiscovering high-lysine corn, which dramatically increased available protein levels in the typical Central American corn and beans diet.
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From page 186...
... He was an instructor in biochemistry at the University of Illinois in 1937-1938, working on the isolation of amino acids from animal sources, and a research associate in pathology at the University of Iowa medical school from 1938 to 1940, working on blood-clotting proteins under H
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From page 187...
... and as a member of the Special Studies Section on Malnutrition of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. His many honors included the Richard Newbury McCoy Award in 1967 from Purdue University; the John Scott Award in 1967 from the city of Philadelphia; the Hoblitzelle National Award in the Agricultural Sciences (Texas)
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From page 188...
... that had altered amino acid compositions of the coleorhiza seed proteins, specifically in higher contents of lysine and tryptophan. These limiting essential amino acids in maize for monogastric animals are doubled in the endosperm proteins of these two maizes.
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From page 189...
... His graduate students monitored variance in assay techniques of the different laboratories on reference standards distributed periodically to the other universities, and these data established quality assurance for assays between laboratories. Mertz was the author of a textbook on biochemistry and published over 100 scientific papers.
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From page 190...
... They played for many years at civic and social functions, and after retirement he played Sunday dinner music at the Holiday Inn and at other restaurants for many years. His last gig was Mary Ellen's Tea Room in Dallas, Texas.
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From page 191...
... He made sure to spend time in each of those areas, including extended family. Fond memories abound of him teaching his step-granddaughter to titrate in the kitchen when she did a science fair project on the nutritional value of carrots.
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From page 192...
... Quantitative threonine re quirement of the weanling pig.
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From page 193...
... Amino acid require ments of men and women. II Relation of lysine requirement to sex, body size, basal caloric expenditure and creatinine excre tion.
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From page 194...
... Mutant gene that changes pro tein composition and increases lysine content of maize endosperm. Science 145:279-280.
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Key Terms

  • purdue university
  • amino acids
  • acid requirements
  • essential amino
  • monogastric animals

  • piano lessons
  • require ments
  • chinook salmon
  • mutant gene
  • distinguished service

  • endosperm proteins
  • american meat
  • quantitative threonine
  • five children
  • hercules powder

  • lysine requirement
  • reference standards
  • acid require
  • iowa medical
  • institute foundation

  • mary ellen
  • meat institute
  • ellen ruskamp
  • assay techniques
  • maize endosperm

  • weanling pig
  • mentally retarded
  • phenylketonuria treated
  • strip test
  • acid supplementation


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