John W. Drake

John W. Drake is an American microbiologist, working for over half a century in the field of mutagenesis and DNA repair.

Education and early career

He completed an MS in Microbiology at the University of Illinois (with Paul M. Bingham). His interest in embryology led him to take his PhD at the California Institute of Technology in 1958^[1] where he studied alongside Howard Temin in the laboratory of Renato Dulbecco.^[2]

Research interests and career

John W. Drake, an early member of the Environmental Mutagen Society, chaired its "Committee 17" which published an influential position paper; “Environmental Mutagenic Hazards”, in Science in 1975.^[3] This described the research needs and regulatory responsibility for managing potential mutagenic compounds in the environment. It significantly influenced research direction, regulatory procedures and mutagenicity testing within industry within the United States and internationally.^[4]

John W. Drake now heads the Spontaneous Mutation and DNA Repair Group within the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.^[1]

Selected publications

• Drake, John W. (2006). Cigna, Arrigo A.; Durante, Marco, eds. "Mutation and DNA repair: from the Green Pamphlet to 2005". Radiation risk estimates in normal and emergency situations. Springer: 271–281. ISBN 978-1-4020-4955-2. 
• Drake, John W. (1958). Intracellular Interactions of Polioviruses: Interference and Multiplicity Reactivation (PDF) (Thesis). Caltech. 

References