Azim surani biography for kids

Azim Surani has followed his curiosity for over half a century, rewriting science in the process.

By Jacqueline Garget

Failed experiments as a student didn’t deter him – Azim Surani has spent his entire career trying to understand early mammalian development.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of his discovery of genomic imprinting – the process in which specific genes are tagged, turning them on or off at the very earliest stage of life.

 

Surani has transformed scientific understanding of the different contributions of maternal and paternal genes to development in mammals, and how these genes are regulated.

The resulting field of epigenetics has now exploded – and his discovery holds wide-ranging potential, from treating human disease to saving endangered species.

 

Professor Azim Surani, Director of Germline and Epigenetics Research at the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge tells us about his journey of discov