Philip L. Townes
Dr. Philip L. Townes | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 18, 1927 Salem, Massachusetts |
| Died | April 1, 2017 (aged 90) Worcester, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Harvard University, 1948 (AB), University of Rochester, 1953 (PhD), 1959 (MD) |
| Occupation(s) | Physician (pediatrics), human geneticist, embryologist, developmental biologist |
| Years active | 1952–1995 |
| Known for | Differential adhesion hypothesis, Townes–Brocks syndrome, Trypsinogen deficiency disease |
| Notable work | Directed movements and selective adhesion of embryonic amphibian cells. (1955). J. Exp. Zool.
Hereditary syndrome of imperforate anus with hand, foot, and ear anomalies. (1972). J. Pediatr Trypsinogen deficiency disease. (1965). J. Pediatr. |
| Spouse | Marjorie G. Townes |
Philip Leonard Townes (February 18, 1927 – April 1, 2017) was an American physician, human geneticist, embryologist and developmental biologist who identified Townes–Brocks syndrome (along with Eric Brocks) in 1972 while a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester.
As a graduate student, his pioneering work with Johannes Holtfreter served as the basis for the differential adhesion hypothesis that explains cellular movement and differentiation during morphogenesis.
In 1965, he described the first patient with isolated pancreatic trypsinogen deficiency, an inborn error of metabolism, that became known as trypsinogen deficiency disease.