Introduction
Marie M. Daly is a well-known biochemist from the United States of America who became the first Black American woman to be honored with a Ph. D. in Chemistry. Her family was mostly education-oriented and, as a result, she quickly completed her studies at New York University and Queens College and then received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemistry. She then proceeded to Columbia University, where she completed her Ph.D. After all the studies, Daly started researching how components of the human body work and their effect on digestion (Brown, 2012). The impact of her findings on science, the challenges she faced, and many other factors that led to her success are important aspects of her contribution to Chemistry.
Marie Maynard’s Role in Advancing the Field of Chemistry
Daly proceeded to Howard University in Washington after her studies to teach chemistry. After two years, she went to the Rockefeller Institute in New York and began her survey on the cell nucleus and its composition. She worked on this project for seven years and achieved great success in her study. Daly spent most of her time in the laboratory experimenting on different specimens and developed various scientific theories, which immensely helped study the heart. She even conducted a heart attack survey and identified how large amounts of cholesterol and clogged arteries were related. Thus, she established an understanding of the impact of food and diet on the heart. She also examined the enzyme amylase, its relation to the digestive system, and how it affects nutrition (Borne, 2020). As a result of her study, people became more conscious and took care of their diet and the types of food consumed, and, therefore, Daly’s research proved to be of significance.
Throughout her lifetime, Daly remained focused on her studies as she sought to help curb many diseases which claimed individuals’ lives. In 1961, Daly married Vincent Clark, but nothing of much importance is mentioned about him. Daly’s breakthrough in research on the heart has helped in the knowledge of cardiovascular health. The human body is programmed to produce its cholesterol, but it can also be obtained from the consumption of animal products like meat and milk. The cholesterol is then transported to the liver by lipoproteins for metabolism to take place. The body contains two types of lipoproteins for this task; High-Density Lipoproteins and Low-Density Lipoproteins (HDLs and LDLs). The LDLs are partially harmful since they facilitate cholesterol accumulation in blood vessels, thus, increasing heart attack and stroke chances (Helix, 2018). Through Daly’s research, people got to know the significant causes of heart attacks.
In 1952, she was also involved in research about nuclei and their contents before DNA’s structure and its role were discovered in hereditary diseases. Daly’s work was cited by other researchers as she had identified contents and properties of histones, purines, and pyrimidine’s which are essential in the coding of RNA and DNA. These findings were crucial in decoding DNA structure and determining the cell role (Debakcsy, 2018). Similarly, she studied hypertension and found the contributing factors that were both chemical and nutritional, as well as other factors such as sugar, smoking, and how they played a part in making the condition worse. In the years to come, Daly researched more on other issues involving the circulatory system, aging and hypertension, and muscle energy recycling focusing on creatine.
Marie Maynard’s Challenges
Daly had to overcome many challenges to succeed in life. She faced issues such as gender discrimination, racism, and financial crisis but still managed to come through them and achieve the success she had in her life. It was only by luck that she managed to get a job in chemistry teaching when World War 2 was in progress; thus, there was a shortage of men, and women had to step in and take charge. She even had to withdraw from Cornell University as the tuition fees were high, and her father could not pay the money required. Regardless of this, her passion ensured that she achieved significant success in her life.
Marie Maynard’s Contribution to Society
During her time, Daly was committed to helping the less fortunate students. She facilitated enrollment in medical school and science programs through scholarships. By doing this, she managed to raise many children’s living standards who wanted to learn across the USA (A&E Television Networks, 2020). She was a mentor to many students and encouraged them to follow their dreams career-wise.
Conclusion
Daly’s success story is an inspiration to all people that nothing is unachievable if they have the will to succeed. The study by Daly on the heart has facilitated a better understanding of its functions and enhanced treatment for patients in the cardiac care unit. Daly is a role model for many people due to her achievements despite the many setbacks she faced in her career pursuit. Her research contributed to the advancement of the field of Chemistry, which is still relevant today.
References
A&E Television Networks. (2020). Marie M. Daly. Biography Editors.
Borne, J. (2020). Hidden figures beyond: The first Black Ph.D. in chemistry, Marie Maynard Daly. Charged Magazine.
Brown, J. (2012). African American women chemists. Oxford University Press.
Debakcsy, D. (2018). Marie Maynard Daly (1921-2003), America’s first Black woman chemist. Women You Should Know.
Helix (2018). Dr. Marie Maynard Daly: A love for the heart. Celebrating remarkable scientists for Black history month. Helix Newsletter.