Saying Goodbye

Joshua Lederberg (1925—2008) was one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century, and my good friend.

On February 2, 2008, my mentor, beloved colleague, and friend, Joshua Lederberg, succumbed to pneumonia after a long illness. The irony is that he was the ultimate herald of humankind's eternal battle with bacteria and their ability to develop resistance to antibiotics. His prescient essay on the theme "Medical science, infectious disease, and the unity of humankind," published originally in JAMA 1 and reprinted in Current Contents, ² exemplifies his insight and erudition. To say that Josh was a genius is simply inadequate to describe the breadth of his polymathic talents and interests. Indeed, he was unquestionably one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century.


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