Aaron Klug

About Aaron Klug

Who is it?: Chemist & Biophysicist
Birth Day: August 11, 1926
Birth Place: Lithuania, British
Alma mater: University of the Witwatersrand (BSc) University of Cape Town (MSc) Trinity College, Cambridge (PhD)
Known for: Crystallographic electron microscopy
Spouse(s): Liebe Bobrow (m. 1948)
Children: Two
Awards: FRS (1969) Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize (1981) Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1982) Copley Medal (1985) Hon FRMS 1985
Fields: Biophysics Chemistry
Institutions: Peterhouse, Cambridge Birkbeck, University of London Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Thesis: The kinetics of phase changes in solids (1953)
Doctoral advisor: Douglas Hartree
Website: www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/group-leaders/emeritus/aaron-klug

Aaron Klug

Aaron Klug was born on August 11, 1926 in Lithuania, British, is Chemist & Biophysicist. A Nobel laureate in Chemistry, Aaron Klug needs no introduction of any kind. He is the man behind the development of crystallographic electron microscopy. His technique of restructuring two dimensional image to three dimensional one has been applied in various arenas, the most prominent one being the CT scan. Born in Zel’va, Białystok Voivodeship, to Jewish parents, he moved to South Africa with his family when he was two. Interested in science from a young age, he went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the Witwatersrand before completing his Master of Science degree at the University of Cape Town. Eventually he moved to England and earned his PhD at Trinity College, Cambridge. He began working with Rosalind Franklin in John Bernal's lab at the Birkbeck College in the University of London. This kindled in him a lifelong interest in viruses. Klug went on to study helical viruses to reveal how protein units are formed, investigated the polio virus with J. D. Bernal, and researched the structure and action of transfer DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). A much renowned chemist, he received several prestigious awards for his development of crystallographic electron microscopy and his structural elucidation of biologically important nucleic acid-protein complexes.
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Does Aaron Klug Dead or Alive?

As per our current Database, Aaron Klug is still alive (as per Wikipedia, Last update: May 10, 2020).

🎂 Aaron Klug - Age, Bio, Faces and Birthday

Currently, Aaron Klug is 98 years, 3 months and 10 days old. Aaron Klug will celebrate 99rd birthday on a Monday 11th of August 2025. Below we countdown to Aaron Klug upcoming birthday.

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Hours
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Popular As Aaron Klug
Occupation Scientists
Age 98 years old
Zodiac Sign Virgo
Born August 11, 1926 (Lithuania, British)
Birthday August 11
Town/City Lithuania, British
Nationality British

🌙 Zodiac

Aaron Klug’s zodiac sign is Virgo. According to astrologers, Virgos are always paying attention to the smallest details and their deep sense of humanity makes them one of the most careful signs of the zodiac. Their methodical approach to life ensures that nothing is left to chance, and although they are often tender, their heart might be closed for the outer world. This is a sign often misunderstood, not because they lack the ability to express, but because they won’t accept their feelings as valid, true, or even relevant when opposed to reason. The symbolism behind the name speaks well of their nature, born with a feeling they are experiencing everything for the first time.

🌙 Chinese Zodiac Signs

Aaron Klug was born in the Year of the Tiger. Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Tiger are authoritative, self-possessed, have strong leadership qualities, are charming, ambitious, courageous, warm-hearted, highly seductive, moody, intense, and they’re ready to pounce at any time. Compatible with Horse or Dog.

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Awards and nominations:

Klug was awarded the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize from Columbia University in 1981. Between 1986 and 1996 he was director of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, and was knighted by Elizabeth II in 1988. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1969 and served as President from 1995–2000. He was appointed Order of Merit in 1995 – as is customary for Presidents of the Royal Society. His certificate of election to the Royal Society reads:

In 2005 he was awarded South Africa's Order of Mapungubwe (gold) for exceptional achievements in medical science.

Biography/Timeline

1851

Klug was born in Želva to Jewish parents Lazar, a cattleman, and Bella (née Silin) Klug with whom he moved to South Africa at the age of two. He was educated at Durban High School. He later graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of the Witwatersrand and studied for his Master of Science degree at the University of Cape Town before he was awarded an 1851 Research Fellowship from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, which enabled him to move to England, completing his PhD at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1953.

1948

Klug married Liebe Bobrow in 1948. Though Klug had faced discrimination in South Africa, he remained religious and according to Sydney Brenner, he has become more religious in his older age.

1953

Following his PhD, Klug moved to Birkbeck College in the University of London in late 1953, and started working with Rosalind Franklin in John Bernal's lab. This experience aroused a lifelong interest in the study of viruses, and during his time there he made discoveries in the structure of the tobacco mosaic virus. In 1962 he moved to the newly built Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge. Over the following decade Klug used methods from X-ray diffraction, microscopy and structural modelling to develop crystallographic electron microscopy in which a sequence of two-dimensional images of crystals taken from different angles are combined to produce three-dimensional images of the target. In 1962 Klug was offered a teaching Fellowship at Peterhouse, Cambridge. He went on teaching after his Nobel Prize because he found the courses interesting and was later made an Honorary Fellow at the College.

1981

Klug was awarded the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize from Columbia University in 1981. Between 1986 and 1996 he was Director of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, and was knighted by Elizabeth II in 1988. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1969 and served as President from 1995–2000. He was appointed Order of Merit in 1995 – as is customary for Presidents of the Royal Society. His certificate of election to the Royal Society reads:

2005

In 2005 he was awarded South Africa's Order of Mapungubwe (gold) for exceptional achievements in medical science.

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