It is with deep sadness I want to inform the community of cytometrists about death of Professor Tornbjorn O. Caspersson. He died recently, at age 87. I have learned about it this week from Brian Mayall. There is no need to remind most Cytometry Board readers who was Torbjorn Caspersson. The younger collegues who just enter the field, however, may not heard much about him, except reading references to his many publications, which still are widely cited in the literature. It was my privilege and pleasure to know Professor Caspersson personally, and interact with him during my stay, as visiting scientist, at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm (1968-69). I feel obliged, therefore, to send this note to the Cytometry Board. Professor Caspersson is considered to be the father of cytometry and modern analytical cytology. He developed the first generation of microspectrophotometers and microfluorometers and introduced the concept of quantitative analysis of the cell. His seminal observations during 1940s and 1950s about the localization of DNA and RNA within the cell provided a foundation for further discoveries revealing mechanisms of DNA replication and transcription by Watson, Crick, Kornberg, DeDuve, Palade, Porter and other Nobel Prize winners. Chromosomes banding, introduced in late 1960s by Caspersson, revolutionized the field of cytogenetics and was the beginning of molecular cytogenetics. A special issue of CYTOMERY, edited by Barton L. Gledhill and Gert Auer (Cytometry, volume 5, Number 4, 1984) was devoted to Professor Caspersson, on the ocassion of his 75th birthday. Preface to this issue, by the Editors, and the enclosed curriculum vitae of Professor Caspersson provide more details about the life and scientific achievements of this remarkable men. Zbigniew Darzynkiewicz
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