George E. Fox, professor emeritus and researcher in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Houston.
Source: Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston
By Marc Amat
In 1951, Joan Oró (Lleida, 1923 – Barcelona, 2004) packed his bags and left Catalunya to study in the United States. At the time, the famous Catalan scientist was just a young graduate trying to find the best way to enrich his academic career. In Spain, the scientific community was laughable; Germany was still in its post-war era, but the United States, on the other hand, had become a very important hub of talent. The Baylor College of Medicine opened its doors for him. He accepted the opportunity and authored a brilliant doctoral thesis on the metabolism of formic acid in animal tissues. He was hired as regular faculty member in the Chemistry Department at the University of Houston in 1956.
Today, Joan Oró is known throughout the world for having made one of the most relevant scientific discoveries of the last century: the prebiotic synthesis of adenine, one of the most important molecules for life. He made the discovery on Christmas Day in 1959, dressed in his white coat, sitting in his laboratory at the University of Houston. Only two years later, he was one of the first scientists to formulate the theory of panspermia, which holds that life on Earth originated from materials from comet impacts on the planet millions of years ago.
In 2023, the mark that Oró left on the University of Houston is still visible. This October 26th, the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics has organized a day to honor him, coinciding with the day of the centenary of his birth. To remember his time in the United States, this month we talk to George E. Fox, professor emeritus and researcher in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Houston.
How would you describe the figure of Joan Oró?
He was one of the founders and great leaders of the then emerging origin of life research field. He revolutionized origin of life studies. Dr. Oro was hired by the then Department of Chemistry in 1956 as a regular faculty member at the University of Houston. Following the Watson and Crick discovery of DNA structure [only three years earlier] UH became interested in creating a program in Biophysics. Dr. Oro was one of three faculty who spearheaded this effort.
The university’s interest and Oro’s enthusiasm translated into the appearance of a new department.
Yes, a new Department of Biophysical Sciences was founded in 1960 and renamed the Department of Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences, in 1981. The Department founded by Oro and led by Oro for many years continues to exist to this day as a separate Division of the Department of Biology and Biochemistry. In the Oro tradition, several faculty members remain interested in the origin of life studies.
Your first arrived at the University of Houston in 1977. What role did the fact that Joan Oró also worked there play?
Oro’s presence made the job offer I received more attractive. More importantly, I suspect he played a key role in my even getting an offer. Upon my arrival at UH he immediately worked with me to establish a collaboration to study phytanyl-glycerol ethers in archaea (the group of single-celled microorganisms that George E. Fox himself had discovered with the microbiologist Carl R. Woese). The resulting paper has been cited over 100 times and gave further support to the Archaea hypothesis. More generally, as the years progressed, he arranged for me to speak at the many conferences he was involved in organizing. I was honored by being invited to dissertation presentations by his various graduate students.
So, you worked side by side and knew him well. How would you describe him?
I still remember that when my wife and I were in Barcelona he gave us a tour of the Catalonian Parliament and a nice dinner. His influence as a person is clearly very large but many might qualify in this respect. Clearly not so with science where he is rather unique. Working with Joan was very easy. He respected people and managed to get his ideas considered without screaming.
What did it mean for the University of Houston to have a figure like Oró among its researchers?
He was honored. Still, there is no Joan Oró Scholarship, or building, or similar signs of recognition. The higher ups knew who he was. He even had his own private parking spot! However, as an emerging research institution the University really did not understand the recognition that Oro was bringing. The University celebrated its 100th anniversary and the Department organized a half day symposium and reception to make sure that Joan and the Department he created get properly recognized in University history.
Do you think that the figure of Oró has been duly recognized in the United States?
No. For example, I do not believe he was ever elected to the US National Academy of Science. Also lost in the past are his efforts to create what is now ISSOL (the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life) and the organization of numerous first-rate conferences. He was one of the first to receive funding from the then new NASA Exobiology program. Actually, over the years he received almost four million dollars of external research support.
On the occasion of the centenary of his birth, do you think this can change?
I have been working to make sure that Joan and the Department he created get properly recognized in the University of Houston history. The University’s history is largely focused on its involvement in the oil and gas industry. With the 100th Anniversary of the University and the event celebrating Oró, the goal is to create more alumni support and understanding of what he did and how it has affected the emerging fields of Exobiology and Astrobiology.
