Dean Hamer
Senior Principal Investigator
Laboratory of Biochemistry, NCI/DDR/NIH
Dean Hamer was born in Montclair, NJ. He received his B.A. from Trinity College, Connecticut and his Ph.D. from Harvard Medical School. He has worked at the National Institutes of Health for 28 years, where he is currently the Chief of the Section on Gene Structure and Regulation in the Laboratory of Biochemistry of the National Cancer Institute.
Dr. Hamer's research has led to major contributions in a variety of areas including recombinant DNA, drug and vaccine production, and gene regulation. He is best known for his research on the role of inheritance in human behavior, personality traits and other complex characteristics. His discovery of genetic links to sexual orientation and personality traits have changed the way we think about human behavior and raise a host of important scientific, social and ethical issues. His current research focuses on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention.
Dr. Hamer has published over 100 scientific papers and received numerous honors including the Ariens Kappers Award for Neurobiology. His books The Science of Desire, Living With Our Genes, and The God Gene have won widespread critical acclaim.
Internal Staff Login