Dame Jean Thomas DBE FMedSci FRS

In early studies, Jean Thomas identified the way in which histones — the basic proteins in the nucleus of all eukaryotes — are associated with each other, which underpinned the nucleosome model proposed by Roger D. Kornberg for the structure of chromatin, the form in which DNA is universally packaged with histones.

The focus of much of her subsequent work has been on proteins involved in stabilisation (linker histone H1, heterochromatin protein 1) or destabilisation (HMGB1) of the folded nucleosome filament, which affect the accessibility or otherwise of genes for transcription. Recent nuclear magnetic resonance studies of HMGB1 have revealed how intramolecular interactions regulate its function and, in particular, the availability of its acidic tail and HMG boxes for interaction with histones and DNA, respectively, in chromatin.

Jean received a CBE in 1993 for services to science and a DBE in 2005 for services to biochemistry. In 2014, she was elected President of the Society of Biology, having served previously, inter alia, as President of the Biochemical Society and a Governor of the Wellcome Trust.

Professional position

  • Emeritus Professor of Macromolecular Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge
  • Trustee, The Wolfson Foundation
  • Past President, Royal Society of Biology
  • Member of the Scientific Advisory Committee, Welsh Government
  • Chancellor, Swansea University

Subject groups

  • Molecules of Life

    Biophysics and structural biology

Dame Jean Thomas DBE FMedSci FRS
Elected 1986
Committees Participated Role
Committee Advising Council on General Candidates November 2022 - October 2024 Member
Nominations Committee November 2015 - December 2019 Member
Grants Committee July 2015 - December 2016 Member
Science Policy Expert Advisory Committee December 2010 - November 2011 Ex-Officio
Biological Sciences Awards Committee December 2008 - December 2013 Chair
Evaluation Panel December 2008 - November 2013 In attendance
Council November 2008 - November 2013 Biological Secretary
Council December 2007 - November 2009 Member
Council December 1990 - November 1992 Member
Sectional Committee 6: Molecules of Life December 1989 - November 1990 Chair
Sectional Committee 6: Molecules of Life December 1987 - November 1989 Member