Renato Dulbecco: A Pioneer in Virology and Cell Culture

Introduction

Renato Dulbecco, an Italian-American virologist, was born on February 22, 1914, in Catanzaro, Italy. He passed away on February 19, 2012, in La Jolla, California. In 1975, Dulbecco was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his groundbreaking work on oncoviruses—viruses capable of inducing cancer. His pioneering research has contributed significantly to the fields of cell biology and virology.

Contributions to Laboratory Science

One of Dulbecco's key contributions to laboratory science was the development of Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM) in the 1950s. He modified Eagle’s Medium to improve the conditions required for the growth of mammalian cells in laboratory cultures.

DMEM became one of the most widely used cell culture media in biological and medical research, forming the foundation of modern cell culture techniques. Today, it remains a cornerstone for growing a variety of cell lines in scientific and medical studies.

Renato Dulbecco - A Pioneer in Virology and Cell Culture