Discovering the structure of haemoglobin

Witness History

BBC

History, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 24 February 2025

⏱️ 11 minutes

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Summary

What was it in September of 1959 that caused an Austrian scientist to rush out from his lab and buy children's modelling clay?

Austrian born Dr Max Perutz had made one of the greatest scientific discoveries of the 20th century. For the first time, he could see what a molecule of haemoglobin looked like in 3D. Using lectures and programmes from the BBC archive, Josephine McDermott tells the story of how his fellow Cambridge University students in the UK thought he was “mad” to try and map a molecule made of 10,000 atoms, and the “appalling task” which took 22 years to complete.

It was an achievement that earned him and his colleague John Kendrew the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1962. It has since contributed to the study of blood diseases like sickle cell anaemia and Huntington's disease.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Dr Max Perutz in 1962. Credit: AP)

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, you're about to listen to a BBC podcast, so I'd like to tell you where you'll find more just like it.
0:05.6	I'm Izzy Lee Poulton, an assistant commissioner for BBC Sounds, which means I'm involved in the whole podcast making process.
0:12.2	Whether that's developing fresh formats or facilitating eye-catching artwork, I helped project manage all the details that make our podcast stand out.
0:19.7	At the BBC, we've got access to storytellers and experts across a huge range of subjects.
0:24.4	It could be psychologists, comedians, celebrities or journalists.
0:28.6	No podcasts or day looks the same here.
0:31.6	So no matter what you like, check out BBC Sounds.
0:34.1	There's probably another podcast on there that you're absolutely love.
0:42.3	Music sounds. There's probably another podcast on there that you're absolutely love. Hello and welcome to the Witness History podcast from the BBC World Service with me,
0:47.6	Josephine McDermott. Today, the moment Dr Max Perutz made one of the greatest scientific
0:53.6	discoveries of the 20th century.
0:56.3	I'm bringing it to you through interviews and lectures from the BBC archive.
1:04.9	It's September 1959 and Dr Max Perutz has just rushed out from his lab to buy children's modelling putty.
1:14.3	As his fingers feverish it into different shapes, he's making history.
1:20.2	He sees what a molecule of hemoglobin looks like in 3D for the first time.
1:26.7	It is really this moment that the scientist lives for.
1:30.1	It's the most exciting thing that can happen to you.
1:32.1	It's like sort of falling in love and discovering a new continent
1:36.0	and winning a great victory all in one.
1:38.8	You really sort of drop out of your skin
1:40.5	when you suddenly see the thing in front of you
1:42.6	which you have been wanting to know for so long.
	...

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