Jeremy Nathans, a distinguished professor of molecular biology and genetics at Johns Hopkins University, took the stage on October 21 with a quiet, reflective demeanor. 

His presentation to the Shanghai Master Forum on Science at Fudan University's Xianghui Hall featured minimalist, black-on-white slides, devoid of ornamentation. 

This understated style reflected Nathans' approach to his work, which recently earned him the prestigious WLA Prize in Life Science or Medicine.

For his first visit to China, Nathans wore a red tie. This choice was particularly meaningful considering the subject of his research.

Jeremy Nathans (Photo provided to People's Daily)

Kicking off his presentation with two contrasting images – one in vivid color and the other in black and white – he explored a fundamental question: how do we "see" the colorful world? And why is everyone's perception of color so similar, yet so distinct?

Last month, Nathans was awarded the WLA Prize for his groundbreaking discoveries in the genetics underlying human color vision and the mechanisms of diseases leading to blindness.

As his former Johns Hopkins colleague Cheng Linzhao remarked, "World Laureates Association truly has an eye for genius when it awarded Nathans this honor."

Scientific spark

From a young age, Nathans was captivated by science. His curiosity bloomed during a visit to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he crossed paths with Harold Edgerton, the father of high-speed photography. 

"Young man, would you like to visit the lab?" Nathans recalled Edgerton asking him. Nathans took up the offer, which ignited his lifelong fascination with visual science.

During his academic journey, Nathans exhibited remarkable talent, publishing research as an MIT undergraduate in Nature and working 14-hour days as a graduate student at Stanford. There, he isolated and cloned the genes for bovine and human optic protein genes, discovering the sensory receptor sequence that helps humans perceive the red, green and blue.

Upon joining Johns Hopkins, in 1988 Nathans had already earned numerous awards for his work in the molecular mechanisms of vision and color perception, and his drive to combat visual impairments – a goal with profound social significance. By 38, he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences as one of its youngest members.

Jeremy Nathans (Image sourced from the internet)

Nathans made significant strides in understanding why color blindness predominantly affects men. He discovered that women have a biological advantage, with two X chromosomes that can compensate for genetic mutations that might cause color blindness. 

His research in vision science has had a lasting impact, with over 215 co-authored papers cited more than 30,000 times, influencing fields from molecular biology to neuroscience. Randy W. Schekman Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine, once hailed Nathans as "one of the best neuroscientists in the world."

'Pure scientist'

Between a lecture and an upcoming interview, Nathans stood quietly, hands in front and head bowed, immersed in thought. "He rarely makes public appearances, seldom attends academic conferences, rarely grants media interviews, and even refrains from editing Wikipedia excessively. It seems he has dedicated all his time to scientific research," said former colleague Cheng, who now heads the University of Science and Technology of China's department of life sciences and medicine. 

"Purity" is a word often used by colleagues to describe him.

Despite his impressive achievements, Nathans attributes his success to hard work and luck. At Johns Hopkins, 66-year-old Nathans is among the first in the lab each day, conducting experiments, tending to equipment like liquid nitrogen tanks, and even disposing of animal carcasses after experiments. 

The day before his trip to Shanghai, he was working in the lab. When asked why he doesn't delegate more to younger scientists, he responded, "I enjoy this work. I can verify my hypotheses with my own hands." Rather than being discouraged by experimental failures, he finds value in them. "This constantly reminds me to stay humble," Nathans said.

Professor Nathans is interviewed by Dajiangdong-Fudan Integrated Media Innovation Studio at Fudan University. (Photo provided to People's Daily)

This was apparent during a Q&A session after his lecture, where Nathans admitted, "I don't know," in response to certain student questions, displaying a refreshing authenticity.

Nathans' dedication to science is partly inspired by his father, Nobel laureate Daniel Nathans, a molecular biologist whose work with Hamilton Smith and Werner Arber on restriction enzymes earned them a Nobel Prize in 1978. "I am deeply influenced by my father's style, and to a large extent, I have internalized it," Nathans said.

Cheng Linzhao agreed. He recalled when Nathans declined to take a co-author credit on a paper with him by saying "Helping you is what I should do."

"He seems to have no time to consider too many things outside of science," Cheng said. "Nathans is a pure scientist. What he does returns to the essence of science itself."

Mentoring with humor

Nathans' students describe him as "extremely rigorous," demanding that every sample in the lab be "labeled with a printout." A postdoctoral researcher in the lab was too busy and simply wrote the names of the reagents with a marker. Upon seeing this, Nathans immediately admonished, "Don't do this; over time, it will become confusing."

Colleagues and students alike see Nathans as a humble mentor with a warm sense of humor. Known for his open-door policy, Nathans welcomes students and young faculty for advice, with many returning simply to say goodbye upon leaving Johns Hopkins. "He doesn't give you the initial impression that he's a top scientist," said a member of Nathans' lab. "He's more like an elder who greets you every day, shows concern for your life, and shares jokes with you."

Nathans is fond of children, calling them "natural scientists." He often gifts his colleagues' children spinning tops used in vision tests as toys and shares scientific knowledge with them. When a young colleague brought her 3-year-old daughter to the lab and the child started crying, Nathans drew her a cute little rabbit. He also likes sharing amusing stories about his grandson with colleagues. 

The Nathans family are music enthusiasts. Liu Chunqiao, a professor at Sun Yat-sen University who worked five years in Nathans' lab as a former postdoctoral fellow, recalled how Nathans, after hearing of his love for the guitar, gave him and his family tickets to a guitar concert.

He is also known for his environmental consciousness, often opting not to use air conditioning in his car. While on his Shanghai trip, he expressed satisfaction upon hearing that leftovers from a banquet would be packed up rather than wasted. 

Nathans exhibits great patience with younger generations. "Imagine yourself as Newton – nothing is impossible," he encouraged students during a lecture. He interacts with his audience, often responding with a smile, "Great question!" 

Liu said Nathans often guide younger scientists with humor. "When he looks at your research and comments 'Interesting,' we mostly understand that what we have might not have much scientific value. But he still encourages you to keep exploring," Liu said. 

Now a professor, Liu said Nathans has deeply influenced his teaching and professional attitude. For instance, when someone asks to borrow experiment samples, he does not hesitate to provide support, saying, "Nathans did the same back then."

Jeremy Nathans delivers a lecture at the Shanghai Master Forum on Science, Fudan University. (Photo provided to People's Daily)

As Nathans concluded his lecture in Shanghai, a crowd of students gathered around him, eager for more insights. Being quite tall, he slightly bent at the waist to answer questions. "Enjoy the journey. Enjoy every step. It's great fun. It's a huge privilege to be at a university. You and I are incredibly fortunate."