Overflow crowds spilled into Wilson Hall for Nobel Laureate Martin Chalfie's seminar on the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein in Coker Hall on Tuesday. With the use of GFP — which Chalfie discovered alongside fellow laureates Osamu Shimomura and Roger Y. Tsien — researchers can view cellular processes that were previously invisible, such as the development of nerve cells in the brain or the spread of cancer. Researchers can now connect the GFP to particular proteins. This glowing marker allows researchers to watch the movements, positions, and interactions of these tagged proteins. "It was cool to see his thought process throughout his experimentations," said sophomore and international studies major Caitliin Williams. "I work in a biology lab on campus and a bunch of people from class came to hear the seminar." Chalfie emphasized the role of student innovation and work ethic in the success of his discoveries and numerous other scientific explorations. "The scientific process is really a cumulative effort," he said. After the seminar, Chalfie offered advice to students who are eager to explore science. "One of my greatest attributes is enthusiasm," he said, "but there is no specific advice I can give." He explained there is no precise formula for success, and that many scientists have countless differing personalities and qualities that lead them to success. He said few are the same.
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