Hans Adolf Krebs

Hans Adolf Krebs was born on August 25, 1900, in Hildesheim, Germany. He would go on to become a renowned biochemist best known for his discovery of the citric acid cycle, also known as the Krebs cycle, a key metabolic pathway in cells. His parents were Georg Krebs, an otolaryngologist, and Alma Davidson. Krebs showed an early interest in chemistry, which led him to pursue a career in the sciences.

In 1932, Hans Adolf Krebs, along with his assistant Kurt Henseleit, discovered the urea cycle, the metabolic pathway that converts ammonia to urea. This was the first cyclic pathway of biological significance to be discovered, laying the foundation for later research on the citric acid cycle. The urea cycle is crucial for the removal of nitrogen waste in mammals, including humans.

In 1933, Hans Adolf Krebs, who was of Jewish descent, lost his position at the University of Freiburg due to the Nazi regime's anti-Semitic laws. He moved to Britain to continue his research and joined the University of Cambridge in the Department of Biochemistry. This move was crucial for his career, allowing him to continue his groundbreaking work in biochemistry.

In 1937, Hans Adolf Krebs discovered the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), a series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidation of acetate, derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, into carbon dioxide. This cycle is fundamental to cellular respiration, the process by which cells convert food into usable energy.

In 1945, Hans Adolf Krebs was appointed as the Chair of Biochemistry at the University of Sheffield. There, he continued his research into metabolic pathways and trained many students who would go on to have successful scientific careers. His influence at Sheffield solidified his reputation as a leading biochemist of his time.

Hans Adolf Krebs was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1953 alongside Fritz Lipmann for their discoveries of the citric acid cycle and the co-enzyme A, respectively. This recognition solidified Krebs' contribution to biochemistry and his role in advancing our understanding of metabolic processes.

In 1958, Hans Krebs received the Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research, recognizing his pivotal discoveries in metabolic research, namely the identification and description of the citric acid cycle. The award highlighted his outstanding contributions to our understanding of fundamental biochemical processes.

Hans Krebs delivered the prestigious Giles Memorial Lecture at the Royal College of Physicians in 1961. This lecture reflected on his scientific journey and contributions to our understanding of metabolism. Krebs' work on metabolic pathways has had an enduring influence on the fields of biochemistry and medicine.

Hans Adolf Krebs was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973 for his services to science. This honor reflected his significant contributions to biochemistry, particularly his discovery of the citric acid cycle, and his impact on the scientific community in the United Kingdom and worldwide.

Hans Adolf Krebs passed away on November 22, 1981, in Oxford, England. Krebs' legacy as a scientist is cemented by his foundational work on metabolic cycles, which has greatly influenced the study of biochemistry and laid the groundwork for further advances in understanding cellular processes.