# Jean Apgar > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jean_Apgar > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jean_Apgar.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Apgar > Source revision: 1356438964 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|American biochemist (1936–present)}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Jean Apgar | image = JeanApgar1970.png | alt = A young white woman with dark hair in a "flip" style, wearing cat-eye glasses and a collared blouse | caption = Jean Apgar, from a 1970 publication of the United States federal government | other_names = | birth_name = Barbara Jean Francis | birth_date = March 4, 1936 | birth_place = Tyler, Texas, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Biochemist | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = | spouse(s) = | relatives = | education = [Texas Woman's University](/source/Texas_Woman's_University)
[Cornell University](/source/Cornell_University) }} '''Barbara Jean Francis Apgar''' (born March 4, 1936) is an American biochemist. She worked on important research on [ribonucleic acids](/source/RNA) (RNA), and on [zinc deficiency](/source/zinc_deficiency) as a risk factor in reproduction. She won the [Federal Woman's Award](/source/Federal_Woman's_Award) in 1970, and the [Arthur S. Flemming Award](/source/Arthur_S._Flemming_Award) in 1973. == Early life and education == Barbara Jean Francis was born in [Tyler, Texas](/source/Tyler%2C_Texas), the daughter of Albert Edward Francis and Mary Agnes Linehan Francis.{{Cite news|date=1970-03-13|title=Native Texan Youngest U.S. Woman Honored|pages=16|work=The Baytown Sun|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87877326/native-texan-youngest-us-woman-honored/|access-date=2021-10-27|via=Newspapers.com}} Her father was a railroad engineer.{{Cite news|date=1985-06-24|title=A. E. 'Bert' Francis Services Tuesday|pages=8|work=The Tyler Courier-Times|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87877529/a-e-bert-francis-services-tuesday/|access-date=2021-10-27|via=Newspapers.com}} She completed undergraduate studies in chemistry at [Texas Woman's University](/source/Texas_Woman's_University), and earned her master's degree and Ph.D. at [Cornell University](/source/Cornell_University).{{Cite news|date=1970-02-16|title=Woman Honored for Federal Service; Youngest to Get Award|pages=13|work=The Ithaca Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87876902/woman-honored-for-federal-service/|access-date=2021-10-27|via=Newspapers.com}} Her 1959 master's thesis was titled "The effect of conventional and electronic cooking on the [thiamine](/source/thiamine) content of pork patties, roasts, and chops";{{Cite thesis|title=The effect of conventional and electronic cooking on the thiamine content of pork patties, roasts, and chops.|date=1959|place=Ithaca, N.Y.|language=English|first=Barbara Jean Francis|last=Apgar| oclc=63363988 }} her 1964 doctoral dissertation was titled ''Separation of [E. coli](/source/Escherichia_coli) [leucine](/source/leucine)-acceptor RNAs''.{{Cite book|last=Apgar|first=Barbara Jean Francis|url=http://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/63340975.html|title=Separation of E. coli leucine-acceptor RNAs.|date=1964|location=Ithaca, N.Y.|language=English|oclc=693121271}} == Career == Apgar worked for the [United States Department of Agriculture](/source/United_States_Department_of_Agriculture) (USDA) as a biochemist in the Plant, Soil and Nutrition Laboratory at Cornell University. She was a member of a team studying the structure of ribonucleic acids (RNA) with [Robert W. Holley](/source/Robert_W._Holley).{{Cite journal|last1=Holley|first1=Robert W.|last2=Apgar|first2=Jean|last3=Everett|first3=George A.|last4=Madison|first4=James T.|last5=Marquisee|first5=Mark|last6=Merrill|first6=Susan H.|last7=Penswick|first7=John Robert|last8=Zamir|first8=Ada|date=1965|title=Structure of a Ribonucleic Acid|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1715055|journal=Science|volume=147|issue=3664|pages=1462–1465|doi=10.1126/science.147.3664.1462|jstor=1715055|pmid=14263761|bibcode=1965Sci...147.1462H |s2cid=40989800|issn=0036-8075|url-access=subscription}} The team won a 1965 USDA Distinguished Service Award, and Holley received a [Nobel Prize](/source/Nobel_Prize_in_Physiology_or_Medicine) in 1968, for that work.{{Cite web|title=Robert W. Holley Biography|url=https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/ithaca-ny/robert-w-holley-center-for-agriculture-health/docs/robert-w-holley-biography/|access-date=2021-10-27|website=USDA ARS}} "Being the first person to do something has a certain fascination," she later wrote, "but it isn't an experience most of us expect to have."{{Cite journal|last=Apgar|first=B. Jean|date=1968|title=Mountain Climbing in a Laboratory|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H9EQw3HB0uMC&dq=Jean+Apgar+Agriculture&pg=PA307|journal=Yearbook of Agriculture|pages=307–310}} Her research in the 1970s focused on the role of [zinc](/source/zinc) in reproductive physiology, and on zinc deficiency as a maternal and fetal health risk during pregnancy and delivery.{{Cite news|date=1973-03-01|title=Scientist Jean Apgar Wins Another Honor|pages=23|work=The Ithaca Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87875845/scientist-jean-apgar-wins-another-honor/|access-date=2021-10-27|via=Newspapers.com}} In 1970, she was one of the six recipients of the Federal Woman's Award,{{Cite journal|last=Jones|first=Dorothy B.|date=April–June 1970|title=The Tenth Annual Federal Woman's Award|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7FGN-D95fX0C&dq=Jean+Apgar+Agriculture&pg=RA3-PA25|journal=Civil Service Journal|volume=10|pages=25}} and the youngest woman to receive that honor. In 1972, she received an Arthur S. Flemming Award, given annually to ten promising young employees of the federal government. == Selected publications == Between 1959 and 1997, Apgar published dozens of research articles in academic journals including ''[Journal of the American Dietetic Association](/source/Journal_of_the_Academy_of_Nutrition_and_Dietetics)'',{{Cite journal|last1=Apgar|first1=Jean|last2=Cox|first2=Nancy|last3=Downey|first3=Irene|last4=Fenton|first4=Faith|date=1959-12-01|title=Cooking Pork Electronically1. Effect on Cooking Time, Losses, and Quality|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002822321179544|journal=Journal of the American Dietetic Association|language=en|volume=35|issue=12|pages=1260–1269|doi=10.1016/S0002-8223(21)17954-4|s2cid=239492499|issn=0002-8223|url-access=subscription}} ''[Journal of the American Chemical Society](/source/Journal_of_the_American_Chemical_Society)'',{{Cite journal|url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ja01484a040|doi=10.1021/ja01484a040|title=Nucleotide and Oligonucleotide Compositions of the Alanine-, Valine-, and Tyrosine-Acceptor "Soluble" Ribonucleic Acids of Yeast|year=1961|last1=Holley|first1=Robert W.|last2=Apgar|first2=Jean|last3=Merrill|first3=Susan H.|last4=Zubkoff|first4=Paul L.|journal=Journal of the American Chemical Society|volume=83|issue=23|pages=4861–4862|url-access=subscription}} ''[Journal of Biological Chemistry](/source/Journal_of_Biological_Chemistry),''Apgar, J., Holley, R. W., & Merrill, S. H. (1962). [https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(18)60374-6/pdf "Purification of the alanine-, valine-, histidine-, and tyrosine-acceptor ribonucleic acids from yeast"] ''Journal of Biological Chemistry'', ''237''(3), 796-802. ''[American Journal of Physiology](/source/American_Journal_of_Physiology),''{{Cite journal|last=Apgar|first=J|date=1968-07-01|title=Effect of zinc deficiency on parturition in the rat|url=https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajplegacy.1968.215.1.160|journal=American Journal of Physiology. Legacy Content|volume=215|issue=1|pages=160–163|doi=10.1152/ajplegacy.1968.215.1.160|pmid=5659329|issn=0002-9513|url-access=subscription}} ''[Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry](/source/Journal_of_Nutritional_Biochemistry)'',{{Cite journal|last=Apgar|first=Jean|date=1992-06-01|title=Zinc and reproduction: an update|url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0955-2863%2892%2990032-E|journal=The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry|language=en|volume=3|issue=6|pages=266–278|doi=10.1016/0955-2863(92)90032-E|issn=0955-2863|url-access=subscription}} ''[Journal of Animal Science](/source/Journal_of_Animal_Science)'',{{Cite journal|last1=Apgar|first1=Jean|last2=Fitzgerald|first2=James A.|date=1985-06-01|title=Effect on the Ewe and Lamb of Low Zinc Intake throughout Pregnancy|url=https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1985.6061530x|journal=Journal of Animal Science|volume=60|issue=6|pages=1530–1538|doi=10.2527/jas1985.6061530x|pmid=4019343|issn=0021-8812|url-access=subscription}} and ''[Journal of Nutrition](/source/Journal_of_Nutrition)''.{{Cite journal|last=Apgar|first=Jean|date=1970-04-01|title=Effect of Zinc Deficiency on Maintenance of Pregnancy in the Rat|journal=The Journal of Nutrition|volume=100|issue=4|pages=470–476|doi=10.1093/jn/100.4.470|pmid=5439355|issn=0022-3166|doi-access=free}} Some of her articles include the following: === Food science projects === * "Cooking Pork Electronically: Effect on Cooking Time, Losses, and Quality" (1959, with Nancy Cox, Irene Downey, and Faith Fenton) === RNA work with R. W. Holley group === * "Nucleotide and oligonucleotide compositions of the [alanine](/source/alanine)-, [valine](/source/valine)-, and [tyrosine](/source/tyrosine)-acceptor 'soluble' ribonucleic acids of yeast" (1961, with Robert W. Holley, Susan H. Merrill, and Paul L. Zubkoff) * "Fractionation of yeast amino acid-acceptor ribonucleic acids by countercurrent distribution" (1961, with B. P. Doctor and R. W. Holley)Doctor, B. P., Apgar, J., & Holley, R. W. (1961). [https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(18)64251-6/pdf "Fractionation of yeast amino acid-acceptor ribonucleic acids by countercurrent distribution"] ''Journal of Biological Chemistry'', ''236''(4), 1117-1120. * "Purification of the alanine-, valine-, [histidine](/source/histidine)-, and tyrosine-acceptor ribonucleic acids from yeast" (1962, with Robert W. Holley and Susan H. Merrill) * "Structure of a ribonucleic acid" (1965, with R. W. Holley, G. A. Everett, J. T. Madison, M. Marquisee, S. H. Merrill, J. R. Penswick, and A. Zamir) === Work on zinc deficiency === * "Effect of Zinc Deficiency on Parturition in the Rat" (1968) * "Effect of Zinc Deficiency on Maintenance of Pregnancy in the Rat" (1970) * "Effect of a Low Zinc Diet during Gestation on Reproduction in the Rabbit" (1971){{Cite journal|last=Apgar|first=Jean|date=1971-12-01|title=Effect of a Low Zinc Diet during Gestation on Reproduction in the Rabbit|url=https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1971.3361255x|journal=Journal of Animal Science|volume=33|issue=6|pages=1255–1258|doi=10.2527/jas1971.3361255x|pmid=5169341|issn=0021-8812|url-access=subscription}} * "Effect of Zinc Deprivation from Day 12, 15, or 18 of Gestation on Parturition in the Rat" (1972){{Cite journal|last=Apgar|first=Jean|date=1972-03-01|title=Effect of Zinc Deprivation from Day 12, 15, or 18 of Gestation on Parturition in the Rat|url=https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/102.3.343|journal=The Journal of Nutrition|volume=102|issue=3|pages=343–347|doi=10.1093/jn/102.3.343|pmid=5061028|issn=0022-3166|url-access=subscription}} * "Effect of Zinc Repletion Late in Gestation on Parturition in the Zinc-deficient Rat" (1973){{Cite journal|last=Apgar|first=Jean|date=1973-07-01|title=Effect of Zinc Repletion Late in Gestation on Parturition in the Zinc-deficient Rat|journal=The Journal of Nutrition|volume=103|issue=7|pages=973–981|doi=10.1093/jn/103.7.973|pmid=4716196|issn=0022-3166|doi-access=free}} * "Effect of Restricted Feed Intake on the Sensitivity of the Bovine Corpus Luteum to LH In Vitro" (1975, with Douglas Aspros, James E. Hixon, Raymond R. Saatman, and William Hansel){{Cite journal|last1=Apgar|first1=Jean|last2=Aspros|first2=Douglas|last3=Hixon|first3=James E.|last4=Saatman|first4=Raymond R.|last5=Hansel|first5=William|date=1975-10-01|title=Effect of Restricted Feed Intake on the Sensitivity of the Bovine Corpus Luteum to LH In Vitro|url=https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1975.4141120x|journal=Journal of Animal Science|volume=41|issue=4|pages=1120–1123|doi=10.2527/jas1975.4141120x|pmid=1176368|issn=0021-8812|url-access=subscription}} * "Effect on the Ewe and Lamb of Low Zinc Intake throughout Pregnancy" (1985, with James A. Fitzgerald) * "Zinc and reproduction: an update" (1992) === Later collaborations === * "Apparent absorption and retention of Ca, Cu, Mg, Mn, and Zn from a diet containing bran" (1986, with R. Schwartz and E. M. Wien){{Cite journal|last1=Schwartz|first1=R|last2=Apgar|first2=B J|last3=Wien|first3=E M|date=1986-03-01|title=Apparent absorption and retention of Ca, Cu, Mg, Mn, and Zn from a diet containing bran|journal=The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition|volume=43|issue=3|pages=444–455|doi=10.1093/ajcn/43.3.444|pmid=3006472|issn=0002-9165|doi-access=free}} * "Marginal vitamin A intake during pregnancy in Guinea pigs: effect on immune parameters in neonate" (1995, with T. R. Kramer and J. Cecil Smith){{Cite journal|last1=Apgar|first1=Jean|last2=Kramer|first2=T. R.|last3=Smith|first3=J. Cecil|date=1995-04-01|title=Marginal vitamin A intake during pregnancy in Guinea pigs: effect on immune parameters in neonate|url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0271-5317%2895%2900022-4|journal=Nutrition Research|language=en|volume=15|issue=4|pages=545–554|doi=10.1016/0271-5317(95)00022-4|issn=0271-5317|url-access=subscription}} * "Serum carotenoid concentrations and their reproducibility in children in Belize" (1996, with D. Makdani, A. L. Sowell, E. W. Gunter, A. Hegar, W. Potts, D. Rao, A. Wilcox, J. C. Smith){{Cite journal|last1=Apgar|first1=J|last2=Makdani|first2=D|last3=Sowell|first3=A L|last4=Gunter|first4=E W|last5=Hegar|first5=A|last6=Potts|first6=W|last7=Rao|first7=D|last8=Wilcox|first8=A|last9=Smith|first9=J C|date=1996-11-01|title=Serum carotenoid concentrations and their reproducibility in children in Belize|journal=The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition|volume=64|issue=5|pages=726–730|doi=10.1093/ajcn/64.5.726|pmid=8901792|issn=0002-9165|doi-access=free}} * "The gerbil: A model for studying the metabolism of beta-carotene and minerals" (1997, with William A. House and J. Cecil Smith){{Cite journal|last1=House|first1=William A.|last2=Apgar|first2=Jean|last3=Smith|first3=J. Cecil|date=1997-08-01|title=The gerbil: A model for studying the metabolism of beta-carotene and minerals|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0271531797001139|journal=Nutrition Research|language=en|volume=17|issue=8|pages=1293–1302|doi=10.1016/S0271-5317(97)00113-9|issn=0271-5317|url-access=subscription}} == Personal life == Jean Francis married Ronald W. Apgar in 1958; they lived in [Ithaca, New York](/source/Ithaca%2C_New_York), and had three children. "The children went to the laboratory with me," she explained, adding "I have very efficient children." Her son Michael died in a car accident in 1985.{{Cite news|date=1985-10-21|title=Obituary for Michael A. Apgar (Aged 25)|pages=5|work=The Ithaca Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87882697/obituary-for-michael-a-apgar-aged-25/|access-date=2021-10-28|via=Newspapers.com}} == References == {{reflist}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Apgar, Jean}} Category:1936 births Category:People from Tyler, Texas Category:Texas Woman's University alumni Category:Cornell University alumni Category:American biochemists Category:American women chemists Category:People from Ithaca, New York Category:Living people Category:21st-century American women biochemists Category:21st-century American biochemists --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jean Apgar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Apgar) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Apgar?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.