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Richard Ebright
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Summary
The making of a scientist is a story of a curious child who
is channelizing his curiosity to become a scientist. Richard Ebright was very
close to his mother, and she plays a key role in developing his interest in
science.
Richard Ebright began his journey by collecting butterflies. Later on, he
did research on the purpose of gold spots on the pupae of monarch butterflies. His
paper on the working of a cell got published in a scientific journal when he was
only 22. He became famous. Ebright participated in many science exhibitions and
won many awards. Apart from science, he had an interest in public speaking and
debate.
Richard Ebright was a curious child. He had started collecting
butterflies in his childhood and by the time he was in second grade, he had
already gathered all the 25 species found in his hometown. Also, he collected
coins, fossils, and rocks. One day his mother gave him a book named ‘The Travels of Monarch X’. It was a turning point in life as it introduced him to the world
of science. When Ebright was in seventh grade he experienced real science in the county science fair. He
understood that to win something he should do something extraordinary. He began to develop a competitive spirit and started working on Dr. Urqhart's ideas.
For his eighth grade, he selected the assignment of finding
the cause of viral sickness that killed almost all the monarch caterpillars
every year. He thought that the cause for this could be a beetle, so, he rose
caterpillars with the presence of beetles. However, he was wrong. The next year his
project for the science fair was testing the theory that Viceroy Butterflies
copy Monarch Butterflies to save themselves from birds. His project got the first prize in the zoology division and third in the county science fair.
In his second year of high school, Richard Ebright's research
led to his discovery of an unknown insect hormone which led to his new theory
on the lives of cells. He tried to find the purpose of tiny golden spots on the
back of the monarch pupa. This project won first place in a country science fair
and a chance to work in the Walter Reed Army Institute of research.
As a high school student, he continued his advanced
experiments at the laboratory of the Department of Agriculture. He was able to identify the hormones’ chemical structure. One day while
looking at the X-ray photos of the hormone he got the idea of his new theory
that tells cells can read the blueprint of their DNA. Ebright and his roommate
constructed the plastic model of molecules to illustrate how cells are able to read DNA.
It was a big leap forward and got published in a magazine. He graduated from
Harvard with the highest honours.
Ebright says that his high school social teacher Mr. Weiherer
had opened his mind for new ideas. Curiosity, first-class mind, and the ability
to do the best are the essential ingredients to make a scientist and Ebright
had these qualities.
He has other interests also like public speaking, debate and
is also a canoeist and an outdoor person. Also, he was competitive but in a good
sense and always want to do his best. Moreover, he possesses all the traits of
becoming a good scientist.
The story teaches us that with perseverance, dedication and
hard work any dream is achievable.
Meanings for some words and phrases:
Curiosity- a strong desire to know or learn something.
Encouraged- give support, confidence, or hope to (someone).
Equipment- the necessary items and tools for a particular
purpose.
Species- a group of living organisms consisting of similar
individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.
Monarch butterflies- a large migratory orange and black
coloured butterfly that occurs mainly in North America.
Collector- a person who collects things of a specified type,
professionally or as a hobby.
Migrations- seasonal
movement of animals from one region to another.
Adhesive- able to stick fast to a surface or object; sticky.
Flock- a number of birds of one kind feeding, resting, or
travelling together.
Life cycle- the series of changes in the life of an organism
including reproduction.
Tedious- too long, slow, or dull; tiresome or monotonous.
County- region
Subject- a person or thing that is being discussed,
described, or dealt with.
Stack- a pile of objects, typically one that is neatly
arranged.
Viral- of the nature of, caused by, or relating to a virus
or viruses.
Starling- a gregarious Old World songbird with a straight
bill, typically with dark lustrous or iridescent plumage but sometimes brightly
coloured.
Zoology- the scientific study of the behaviour, structure,
physiology, classification, and distribution of animals.
Research- the systematic investigation into and study of
materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
Hormone- a regulatory substance produced in an organism and
transported in tissue fluids such as blood or sap to stimulate specific cells
or tissues into action.
Assumed- supposed to be the case, without proof.
Ornamental- serving or intended as an ornament; decorative,
cosmetic
Sophisticated- advanced
Blueprint- a design
plan or technical drawing.
Nucleus- the central and most important part of an object,
movement, or group, forming the basis for its activity and growth.
Heredity- the passing on of physical or mental characteristics
genetically from one generation to another.
Roommate- a person occupying the same room as another.
Researcher- a person who carries out academic or scientific
research.
Debater- a person who argues about a subject, especially in
a formal manner.
Canoeist- A canoeist is someone who is skilled at racing and
performing tests of skill in a canoe.
Exhibits- manifest clearly (a quality or a type of
behaviour).
Admire- regard with respect or warm approval.
Competitive- relating to or characterized by competition.
Ingredients- a component part or element of something.
Some Question with Answers
1. How did a book become a turning point in Richard
Ebright’s life?
Richard had collected all the 25 species of butterflies that
were found in his surroundings. He thought that it would be an end to the butterfly
collection. Then his mother bought him a book, ‘Travels of Monarch X’. The book
was written by Dr Urquhart, a Canadian Zoologist. It described how the
butterflies migrated to Central America. The book aroused an interest in him
for exploring more and led to his scientific curiosity. Like this, a book became
a turning point in Richard Ebright’s life.
2. How did his mother help him?
Richard Ebright’s mother played a major role in his life. She
encouraged him by buying telescopes, microscopes, cameras, and mounting
equipment. She tried to help him learn
various things in the evening when he had free time. She also used to take him
out on field trips. She gave him a book called ‘Travels of Monarch X’ which led
to his scientific curiosity. Thus, Ebright’s mother helped him to become a
scientist.
3. What lesson does Ebright learn when he does not win
anything at a science fair?
Ebright had presented slides of Frog tissues at the fair. He
realized that by simply presenting something was not enough to be a winner. He
had learned that it is important to do real experiments.
4. What experiments and projects does he then undertake?
Ebright did an experiment to see the cause of the viral
disease that kills nearly all the monarchs after every few years and also took
up a project to prove that the viceroy butterflies copy monarchs to survive by
behaving like them.
5. What are the qualities that go into the making of a
scientist?
According to the lesson, ‘The Making of a Scientist’ there
are three qualities that a person needs to become a scientist. The first
quality is a first-rated mind, the second quality is curiosity and the third
quality is the will to win for the right reasons.
Think About It (Answers to the
questions on Page 38)
1. How can one become a
scientist, an economist, a historian …? Does it simply involve reading many
books on the subject? Does it involve observing, thinking, and doing
experiments?
One should have passion in the
chosen field. By reading many books on the subject is not enough. One must
develop the skill of observation and thinking. One should have the curiosity to
explore and find new things. (37 words)
2. You must have read about cells
and DNA in your science books. Discuss Richard Ebright’s work in the light of
what you have studied. If you get an opportunity to work like Richard Ebright
on projects and experiments, which field would you like to work on and why?
Cells are the building blocks of
all life forms. There are different kinds of cells that perform different kinds
of roles. DNA is an essential component that directs cell growth. It carries
the blueprint of life and heredity. DNA passes information from one generation
to the other.
If I get an opportunity to work
like Richard Ebright, I would choose to study diseases. By studying the
DNA, I may find ways and means to cure many illnesses. A new branch of medicine
involving DNA modifications is known as genetic engineering. I would like to
study genetics and find ways to make humans more immune and disease-proof. (109
words)
