Spring Convocation - Students - University of Saskatchewan

Earned Doctor of Science
JEREMY LEE
Born and raised in Northern England,
Jeremy Lee was awarded a scholarship
in 1971 to study natural sciences at
Cambridge University and received a
B.A. in chemistry in 1974. Three years
later, he completed a Ph.D. in
pharmacology. His thesis title was The
Binding of Antibiotics to DNA —
research that marked the beginning of
a lifelong interest in the structure and
function of nucleic acids.
After spending four years working in a
university biochemistry lab in
Edmonton, Dr. Lee became a landed
immigrant in 1980. In 1982, he moved
to Saskatoon to take up a position at
the U of S as assistant professor of
biochemistry.
His initial research focus was analysis
of monoclonal antibodies that bind to
proteins, DNA or RNA. By 1987, he
had succeeded in preparing unique
antibodies which bind specifically to
three-stranded DNA, showing that the
chromosomes of eukaryotes—the same
broad group of organisms that includes
humans—contained this unusual
structure.
In 1997, he was the first to convert an
antibody that binds to RNA into a
nuclease that cuts RNA into pieces by
the modification of a single amino
acid. But it was the unexpected
discovery of another unusual DNA
structure in 1992, called M-DNA,
which has dominated his research for
the last 15 years.
M-DNA has a metal ion in the middle of
the DNA helix which causes the DNA to
become a conductor of electrons rather
than an insulator. With a diameter of
only two nanometers, M-DNA may be
the smallest wire imaginable. Indeed a
simple transistor with dimensions of
only 10 nanometres has been
constructed in Dr. Lee’s lab.
Potential applications include
M‐DNA‐based diagnostic tools that
would quickly yield information on
genetic disease and bacterial
infection—perhaps even providing
answers to doctors before the end of a
patient’s visit. Adnavance Technologies
Inc. was founded in 2002 in order to
exploit this possibility, with Dr. Lee
serving as the company’s chief
scientific officer.
Dr. Lee is proud of the fact that he has
never taken a biochemistry course in
his life and yet has taught the subject
for 25 years to medical and graduate
students and in the undergraduate
biochemistry program.
He was honoured with the College of
Medicine basic sciences teaching
award in 1990 and 1995. His love of
teaching is matched only by his dislike
of PowerPoint and he can frequently
be found walking around campus
covered in chalk dust.
University of Saskatchewan 26 Spring Convocation 2007