| Robert L. Letsinger | |
| Birth Date: | 31 July 1921 |
| Birth Place: | Bloomfield, Indiana |
| Nationality: | American |
| Fields: | Biochemistry |
| Workplaces: | Northwestern University |
| Alma Mater: | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Doctoral Advisor: | Avery Morton |
| Doctoral Students: | Marvin H. Caruthers, Kelvin Ogilvie |
| Known For: | DNA Synthesis |
Robert Lewis Letsinger (July 31, 1921 – May 26, 2014) was an American biochemist and was a professor of chemistry at Northwestern University. He was best known for his research and development of chemical synthesis of DNA.[1]
Letsinger earned his B.S. in 1943 his Ph.D. in 1945, both at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1946, he joined the department of chemistry at Northwestern University. He retired from teaching in 1991 as the emeritus Clare Hamilton Hall Professor.
In the 1960s, Letsinger developed methods for solid phase synthesis of oligonucleotides, including the phosphoric triester method[2] and the phosphoramidite synthesis. He thus laid the foundations for efficient automated synthesis of gene fragments and thus the rapid development of molecular biology.[3]
Letsingers later dealt with nanotechnology and its application in DNA diagnostics. In 2000, Letsinger was one of the founders of the biotechnology company Nanosphere Inc.
Letsinger was married to Dorothy Thompson (1922-2010) in 1943. The couple had three children.