When physics meets biology: a less known Feynman

TL;DR

This paper explores Feynman's lesser-known involvement in molecular biology, highlighting his collaborative work, lectures, and influence in the field during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Contribution

It uncovers Feynman's contributions to molecular biology, emphasizing his collaborations, lectures, and influence, which are less documented compared to his physics work.

Findings

Feynman's work on genetics with Robert S. Edgar is historically significant.

His lectures at Hughes Aircraft Company covered biology, chemistry, and microbiology.

Feynman's influence extended into molecular biology, as noted by contemporaries like Francis Crick.

Abstract

We discuss a less known aspect of Feynman's multifaceted scientific work, centered about his interest in molecular biology, which came out around 1959 and lasted for several years. After a quick historical reconstruction about the birth of molecular biology, we focus on Feynman's work on genetics with Robert S. Edgar in the laboratory of Max Delbruck, which was later quoted by Francis Crick and others in relevant papers, as well as in Feynman's lectures given at the Hughes Aircraft Company on biology, organic chemistry and microbiology, whose notes taken by the attendee John Neer are available. An intriguing perspective comes out about one of the most interesting scientists of the XX century.