Rita Levi-Montalcini, an Italian Nobel prize-winning neurologist, has died at the age of 103. Miss Levi-Montalcini became one of Italy's finest and most respected figures for her discovery of nerve growth factor, which regulates the growth of cells. Her discovery and research have advanced the understandings of cancer, tumors, malformations, and senile dementia. In 1986, Miss Levi-Montalcini shared the Nobel prize for medicine with biochemist Stanley Cohen.
Miss Levi-Montalcini was born in 1909 in Turin, Italy, to a rich Jewish family. After studying medicine and graduating in 1936, the fascist government banned Jews from having academic or professional careers. Instead of giving up, she set up a laboratory in her bedroom and experimented on chicken embryos. Miss Levi-Montalcini's family lived underground in Florence after the Germans invaded Italy in 1943; later she worked as a doctor for the allies that freed the city.
Miss Levi-Montalcini was admitted as a senator for life into the Italian upper house of parliament. She was also an ambassador for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and founded the Levi-Montalcini Foundation, which carries out charity work in Africa. Miss Levi-Montalcini died peacefully in her sleep. She carried out research for several hours each day up until her death. When she was 100, Miss Levi-Montalcini said in an interview, "At 100, I have a mind that is superior - thanks to experience - than when I was 20."
Before I read this article, I had never heard of Miss Levi-Montalcini, but she sounded like a wonderful, intelligent, strong lady. She did not give up her dream of becoming a scientist or working in medicine when fascism told her she could not. Instead, she set up a lab and continued her studies! And it is really amazing that even at age 103, she was still able to learn and use her mind. To top it off, Miss Levi-Montalcini was a woman, which must have made it even more difficult to receive credit for her accomplishments.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20871120
i think its amazing that she didnt give up even at age 103
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of her, but she seemed to have an amazing story and life.
ReplyDeleteHer will to continue work even at her age amazes me. There should be more people as committed as she is.
ReplyDeleteI agree
ReplyDeleteI also had never heard of her before I read this. It is amazing that one person has helped our knowledge of science so much. It is so nice to hear that she kept her dreams of becoming a scientist, and she ended up winning the Nobel Prize for medicine even thought she was told that she could not have an academic career. It sounds like this women had an amazing life. She accomplished so much, and she will be remembered.
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