# Hitoshi Kihara

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**Hitoshi Kihara** (木原 均, *Kihara Hitoshi*, 21 October 1893 – 27 July 1986) was a Japanese [geneticist](/source/Geneticist) known for his work on the [genetics](/source/Genetics) of [wheat](/source/Wheat) and fruits.[1]

## Biography

Hitoshi Kihara was born on 21 October 1893 in [Tokyo](/source/Tokyo), Japan. He graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture, [Hokkaido Imperial University](/source/Hokkaido_Imperial_University) and served as a professor at the Faculty of Agriculture, [Kyoto University](/source/Kyoto_University) from 1927 to 1956 and the [National Institute of Genetics](/source/National_Institute_of_Genetics) from 1955 to 1969, and also served at [Kihara Institute for Biological Research](/source/Kihara_Institute_for_Biological_Research) from 1942 to 1984.[1] He was elected a member of the [Japan Academy](/source/Japan_Academy),[2] the United States [National Academy of Sciences](/source/National_Academy_of_Sciences),[3] the [American Academy of Arts and Sciences](/source/American_Academy_of_Arts_and_Sciences),[4] and the [American Philosophical Society](/source/American_Philosophical_Society).[5]

Since 1983, the Genetics Society of Japan (GSJ) has awarded the Kihara Prize to researchers who made a considerable achievement in the field of genetics in honor of Hitoshi Kihara who contributed on a global scale to the field of [genetics](/source/Genetics) and study of evolution with his research centering on wheat.[6]

In 1985, the Kihara Memorial Yokohama Foundation for the Advancement of Life Sciences was established in [Yokohama](/source/Yokohama), to commemorate Hitoshi Kihara and to promote [life sciences](/source/Life_sciences).[7]

## Contribution

At that time, it was mandatory for a Japanese academic to work overseas for a number of years in order to gain admission as members of research faculties. While working in Germany, Hitoshi Kihara studied the genetics of *[Rumex acetosella](/source/Rumex_acetosella)* and other [Sorrel](/source/Sorrel) species, and discovered the [sex chromosomes](/source/Sex_chromosomes).[1] In 1936, he noticed that in wheat seven chromosomes become a pair that performs the lowest gene function, and thus named it [genome](/source/Genome).[8] The concept of genome extended all over the world and formed the basis for development of biology and genetic engineering.

## See also

- [Kihara Memorial Foundation Academic Award](/source/Kihara_Memorial_Foundation_Academic_Award)

## References

1. Crow, James F. (August 1991). ["Anecdotal, Historical and Critical Commentaries on Genetics"](http://www.genetics.org/content/137/4/891.full.pdf). *[Genetics](/source/Genetics_(journal))*. **137** (4): 891–894. [Genetics Society of America](/source/Genetics_Society_of_America). [doi:10.1093/genetics/137.4.891](https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/137.4.891). [OCLC 469812548](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/469812548). [PMC 1206066](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1206066). [PMID 7982570](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7982570). Retrieved 22 January 2013.

1. ["KIHARA, Hitoshi, Deceased members of the Japan Academy"](http://www.japan-acad.go.jp/en/members/bukko/k_gyo.html). *Japan Academy*. Retrieved 30 January 2013.

1. ["H. Kihara"](http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/deceased-members/45996.html). *nasonline.org*. Retrieved 2022-10-04.

1. ["Hitoshi Kihara"](https://www.amacad.org/person/hitoshi-kihara). *American Academy of Arts & Sciences*. Retrieved 2022-10-04.

1. ["APS Member History"](https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=Hitoshi+Kihara&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced). *search.amphilsoc.org*. Retrieved 2022-10-04.

1. ["The Kihara Prize and The GSJ Award for Young Scientists"](http://gsj3.jp/eng/e-soc-priz.html). *The Genetics Society of Japan*. Retrieved 30 January 2013.

1. ["ABSTRACT OF THE FOUNDATION"](https://web.archive.org/web/20171202111420/http://kihara.or.jp/english/kihara/abstract.html). *Kihara Memorial Yokohama Foundation for the Achievement of Life Sciences*. Archived from [the original](http://kihara.or.jp/english/kihara/abstract.html) on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2013.

1. ["Hitoshi Kihara, a proponent of the genome concept"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081204170508/http://www.japanese-greatest.com/biology-medicine/genome.html). *The World’s Greatest Japanese*. Archived from [the original](http://www.japanese-greatest.com/biology-medicine/genome.html) on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2013.

## External links

- [Kihara Memorial Yokohama Foundation for the Advancement of Life Sciences](http://kihara.or.jp/english/index_e.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140204021017/http://kihara.or.jp/english/index_e.html) 4 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- [Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University](http://www.yokohama-cu.ac.jp/eng/research/kihara.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131129154705/http://www.yokohama-cu.ac.jp/eng/research/kihara.html) 29 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hitoshi Kihara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitoshi_Kihara) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitoshi_Kihara?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.