Oral Histories

Interview of Christine E. Holt

Subtitle:
Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences: Christine E. Holt
Series:
Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences
Topic:
Science, Medicine, and Technology
Interviewer:
Novak, Steven J.
Interviewee:
Holt, Christine E.
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series, sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts, document the research of "outstanding scientists from quality institutions" chosen by the Pew Scholars Program to receive four-year stipends.
Abstract:
Childhood in England; studies biology at University of Sussex; conducts research on visual development in Xenopus at the Medical Research Council Cell Biophysics Unit; advantages and drawbacks of working with Xenopus; Holt's observations regarding cell migration during eye development; pursues a postdoc in the William A. Harris lab at University of California, San Diego (UCSD); Holt and Harris decide to marry; disproving the mechanospatial theory of brain development; Holt's belief in the chemoaffinity theory of development; accepts a fellowship to study mammalian development under Colin Blakemore; realizes working at the same institution as Harris is impeding her career; works with Friedrich Bonhoeffer; developing the method of in vivo lipofection; works with John Gurdon; establishing a lab; lab personnel; the UCSD department of Biology; strategies for balancing a career with family life; problems faced by women in science; Harris's mentoring style; interest in investigating the role of glycosaminoglycans and FGF receptors in axon development; potential competitors; Holt's view of molecular biology as one of the several approaches to answering biological questions.