Discovering the structure of haemoglobin

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Feb 24, 2025

In 1959, an Austrian scientist sparked intrigue by using modeling clay to unlock the 3D structure of haemoglobin. His groundbreaking discovery took 22 years and was met with skepticism by peers. Utilizing X-ray crystallography, researchers overcame major hurdles to finally visualize this complex molecule. The journey culminated in a Nobel Prize win in 1962, a pivotal moment that not only celebrated their triumph but also advanced understanding of blood diseases. Dive into the emotional highs and lows of this remarkable scientific saga.

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ANECDOTE

The Modeling Clay Moment

In September 1959, Dr. Max Perutz excitedly bought children's modeling clay after a breakthrough.
He was visualizing the 3D structure of a hemoglobin molecule for the first time.

ANECDOTE

Perutz's Journey to England

Dr. Perutz, born into a Jewish family in Austria, studied at Vienna University.
He left Austria for England in 1936 due to rising Nazi power and seeking better scientific opportunities.

ANECDOTE

Seeking the Secret of Life

Dr. Perutz sought advice from John Desmond Bernal in Cambridge on solving the "riddle of life."
Bernal directed him towards studying protein structures using X-ray crystallography.

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What was it in September of 1959 that caused an Austrian scientist to rush out from his lab and buy children's modelling clay?

Austrian born Dr Max Perutz had made one of the greatest scientific discoveries of the 20th century. For the first time, he could see what a molecule of haemoglobin looked like in 3D. Using lectures and programmes from the BBC archive, Josephine McDermott tells the story of how his fellow Cambridge University students in the UK thought he was “mad” to try and map a molecule made of 10,000 atoms, and the “appalling task” which took 22 years to complete.

It was an achievement that earned him and his colleague John Kendrew the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1962. It has since contributed to the study of blood diseases like sickle cell anaemia and Huntington's disease.

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(Photo: Dr Max Perutz in 1962. Credit: AP)