Salvador Luria

Salvador Luria was a pioneering microbiologist who, along with Max Delbrück, discovered that bacteria can develop mutations naturally, which helps them survive threats like viruses. Their work demonstrated that genetic changes happen randomly and can be passed on, shaping how we understand evolution and heredity. This discovery earned them the 1969 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Luria’s research significantly advanced molecular biology by illustrating that genetic mutations are spontaneous and unpredictable, laying the foundation for modern genetics and biotechnology.