Biotech Career Profiles

Donald H. Dean, Ph.D.

Donald H. Dean (in lab coat) with one of his
students, Amir Abdullah, from Malaysia.

Professor of Biochemistry
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio

As a child in elementary school, I was fond of examining flowers and

insects. By sixth grade I had a spider collection and managed to breed black widows without killing myself. I recall being very frustrated at not being able to find many books to tell me more about my interests. My parents and teachers did not particularly encourage me (not everybody likes spiders); and I was not particularly successful as a student, but I excelled in a few classes. For me, it has been biology that held my interest. I was fortunate enough to have two years of high school biology with inspiring teachers. Unlike most of my academic colleagues, who were great scholars, I have focused on what interested me. I have found that by concentrating my efforts on just those things that did interest me and working hard in those areas, I have not only made a living but have found immense joy in my field. Is there a lesson here for others? Perhaps only that if one perseveres in one's goals and refuses to accept failure, one has a better than average chance of making a happy, rewarding life. My warning is that competition is more intense now than when I was young, and budding young scientists must be better prepared.

My early studies in biology and genetics placed me in the path of the field that became known as biotechnology. One of the areas of biotechnology is the use of insecticidal protein genes in plants to replace synthetic pesticides. Although there are thousands of scientific areas that are of interest to me, I have focused my interest on how these insecticidal proteins work. These proteins are made by a bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis; a common inhabitant of soil, plants, and, of course, insects (both dead and alive). You can find this bacterium sold commercially in garden stores as a pest control for home gardens. One variety of this bacterium is also used to control mosquitoes.

My studies have led to an understanding of how these proteins bind to receptors on the insect midgut; how they insert into the membrane and how they form ion channels to kill the insect. In the course of these studies, we have learned how to make the toxins work better, both in binding to receptors and in inserting into the membrane. The use of site-directed mutagenesis has proven to be a powerful tool to manipulate the genes to allow us to produce a protein of virtually unlimited variations. Genetic methods in combination with biophysical analysis and computer-generated models of the proteins have opened a vast playground of approaches that guarantee we need never be-come bored in our endeavor.

One of the tricks of a successful career in science is to evolve. By that I mean to be willing and able to pursue new methods to answer questions about a particular research project. I shall be 60 this year, and I am still learning new techniques. As with all forms of life, scientists adapt, or they become extinct.

From 40 years of research, I can draw one general conclusion about science. This is an observation that I would call the real fountain of youth; that is, by doing science one is continually challenged to stay young and fresh in one's thinking. If we examine scientific events of 50 or 100 years ago, we realize how much has been discovered. Thinking ahead 100 years, we can imagine how primitive our current understanding will seem. One must always take this perspective when doing science. What there is to learn is infinitely greater than what we now know. Every model and hypothesis will fall. This becomes the thrill of science. Making a prediction and proving that it is true is certainly rewarding, but finding a result that contradicts what we thought we knew is the skin-tingling raison d'etre of science. In my own area I live to find these moments when nature completely surprises me.

The question arises, more often now than ever in modern times, how can we encourage young people to go into science? Without making a lot of promises that cannot be fulfilled, especially in today's market where there are 200-300 applications for every assistant professor position open, my advice to the young person interested in a career in science is simple. Follow your interests. If you are a person who is curious about how things work, go into a branch of science. However, following your interests is not enough. You must seriously pursue your interests with a vengeance. You must rebound from failure (because failure is the primary experience of science). Finally you must prepare well. Focus on math and science courses (chemistry, physics, and biology). These are the foundations that will allow you to adapt and help you achieve your long-range goals.