title: A tribute to Thomas Roosevelt Punnett, Jr. (1926-2008).
abstract: We honor here Thomas (Tom) Roosevelt Punnett, Jr. (May 25, 1926-July 4, 2008), who was a pioneer of Biology, particularly of biochemistry of plants and algae, having specialized in photosynthesis under Robert Emerson of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He did exciting work on regulation and control of various metabolic reactions. He was an innovator and raconteur par excellence, and he prized critical thinking. His enthusiasm for basic science questions was matched by his grasp of their "real-world" implications. His last project was a patent for anaerobic sewage treatment that he hoped would lead to solution of waste disposal and energy creation world wide, including the clean-up of Lake Erie, where he had sailed as a boy. On the personal side, he had a strong sense of morality and a great wit and humor.
authors: Department of Biology, College of Science and Mathematics, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morressey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125, USA. william.hagar@umb.edu
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Hagar
authors: Hope
authors: H
authors: Punnett
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Punnett
authors: Govindjee
mesh_terms: D001671:Biochemistry / Q000266:history; D001695:Biology / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D010788:Photosynthesis; D014481:United States