born Oct. 15, 1910, Motala, Swed.
Swedish cell biologist and geneticist.
After receiving his medical degree from the University of Stockholm in 1936, he initiated the use of the ultraviolet microscope to determine the nucleic acid content of cellular structures such as the nucleus and nucleolus. He theorized that nucleic acids must be present for protein synthesis to occur. He was the first to perform cellular chemical studies on the giant chromosomes found in insect larvae. He also investigated the role of the nucleolus in protein synthesis.