Elizabeth Blackburn is an Australian-American molecular biologist renowned for her pioneering research in telomere biology. Born on November 26, 1948, in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, Blackburn co-discovered the enzyme telomerase in 1984, which plays a key role in the replication and protection of chromosome ends. Her work has deepened scientific understanding of cellular aging and has implications for cancer and age-related diseases. For her contributions to science, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2009, alongside Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak. Blackburn has also been involved in bioethics and science policy, advocating for responsible research and its implications on human health.
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