Daniel Carleton Gajdusek (Nobel laureate)

Daniel Carleton Gajdusek was an American physician and scientist awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1976. He is best known for his groundbreaking research on prions, which are infectious agents composed of protein that cause neurodegenerative diseases, such as kuru, observed in the Fore people of Papua New Guinea. Gajdusek's work revealed how cultural practices, like cannibalism, contributed to the spread of these diseases. His discoveries not only advanced our understanding of prion diseases but also raised ethical questions regarding research practices, as his later life became mired in controversy over personal conduct.