Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40855820›Full record

ArticleGenetics2025

Pioneer of bacterial genetics: the legacy of Esther Miriam Lederberg.

Carolin C Wendling, Zachary M Bailey

Abstract readHistorical Article
In one paragraph

Article in Genetics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Carolin C WendlingMax von Pettenkofer Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Pettenkoferstr. 9a, Munich 80336, Bavaria, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-4532-7528
Zachary M BaileyInstitute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstr. 6, Bern 3012, Bern, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Esther Miriam Lederberg's brilliant scientific lifework, from the discovery of phage lambda, bacterial conjugation, and replica plating, provided essential tools that have been shaping the field of bacterial genetics for decades. Fundamental principles and ideas derived from her work have influenced many significant discoveries in microbial genetics over the past 70 years. From the operon model to recombinant DNA technology, from antibiotic resistance research to the discovery of restriction enzymes, Esther's work has set the stage for groundbreaking scientific work including many Nobel Prizes. Despite her discoveries, her contributions were often overlooked, and recognition was often given to her collaborators, particularly her husband. Thus, beyond her scientific impact, her perseverance and her ability to circumvent societal conventions are among her most important legacies that have been paving the way for future generations of scientists. In this article, we honor Esther Lederberg by revisiting her scientific discoveries, exploring how they influenced our current understanding of molecular genetics, and reflecting on the broader importance of recognizing and rewarding equity in the scientific community.

Indexed as

BacteriaGenetics, MicrobialHistory, 20th CenturyHistory, 21st Centurybacterial geneticsF-plasmidphage lambdascientific legacywomen in science

Identifiers

PMID40855820
PMCPMC12606432

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.