Barbara K. McClintock

Barbara K. McClintock was an American scientist renowned for her pioneering work in genetics. She discovered "transposable elements," or "jumping genes," which are segments of DNA capable of moving within a genome. Her research revealed that genes are more dynamic than previously thought, reshaping our understanding of genetic behavior and heredity. McClintock's findings earned her the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1983. Her work has had a profound impact on genetics, plant breeding, and the study of genetic stability and mutation.