There are many qualities a scientist should have in order to become a great scientist. Some of these qualities are persistence, patience, and determination. These are just some of the qualities that a scientist needs to have to become great. Dr. Lynn Margulis is one of these great scientists. She is a determined woman who made it in the science world because everyone told her she could not do it. As a woman, Dr. Lynn Margulis was told to stay away from science, but she instead drove right into science against others' opinions. In this rebellious manner, Dr. Lynn Margulis continued to the top of her profession. The following is a look into her life.
| College Years | Scientific Experiences |
| Research and Theory | Current Work |
As a young woman, Margulis earned her AB in
Liberal Arts from University of Chicago and got her first taste of
discrimination and rejection. Although she graduated, Margulis was not
allowed to major in a specific area. For most people, this situation would
have been considered a drawback, but Margulis is different. Margulis
actually contributes this event to her catapult into the world of science.
Next, Margulis received her Masters in Genetics and Zoology from the University of
Wisconsin. Then, she attended the University of California at Berkley for
her PhD in Genetics.
After her college years, Margulis held two fellowships:
Sherman Fairchild Fellowship in Geological and Planetary Sciences Department at
California Institute of Technology (1977) and Guggenheim Fellowship for her work
on microbial mats (1979). In 1966, Margulis was hired to work in the
Biology Department at Boston University. Here, at Boston University, was
where Margulis made her breakthrough work in cellular evolution, and thus
brought about her Endosymbiotic Theory. Margulis worked in collaboration
with Dr. James Lovelock on his Gaia hypothesis, which included her Endosymbiotic
Theory. Margulis was offered a job at the University of Massachusetts
in 1988. She stayed there and continues her work in the Department of
Geosciences. In 1992, she was awarded the University of Massachusetts
Chancellor's Medal for Distinguished Faculty and one year Faculty Fellowship.
Margulis has received eight honorary doctorate degrees, both national and
international, in her life.
Besides working at major universities, Margulis did outside activities that adds to her scientific experience. From 1977 to 1980, Margulis chaired the National Academy of Science's Space Science Board Committee on Planetary Biology and Chemistry Evolution. As a leader on the board, Margulis worked towards new research strategies for NASA. Margulis received the NASA Public Service award in 1981. During this time, Margulis participated in the development of science teaching materials for all age levels, spanning from elementary to graduate school. In 1983, she was elected a member of the US National Academy of Sciences. Many honors have been received by Margulis in the past couple of years, including induction into: the World Academy of Art and Science (1995), the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences (1997), and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1998). In November of 1999, Margulis was awarded the Sigma Xi's Distinguished Proctor Prize.
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Research
and Theory 
While at Boston University, Margulis proposed
a radical idea, endosymbiotic theory. The endosymbiotic theory is a
suggestion of how organelles came into being. Her theory suggests that
maybe an oxygen breathing bacteria was eaten, or ingested, by an anaerobic
bacteria that had amoeba-like features. These two bacteria worked
together, mutually benefiting from each other's functions. The aerobic
bacteria breathed for the anaerobic bacteria, while the anaerobic bacteria
directed them through the waters in a hunt for food.
After the proposal of the endosymbiotic theory, Margulis
predicted that if organelles were prokaryotic symbionts, then the organelles
will have their own DNA that would be different from the DNA of the cell.
This prediction was actually proven in the 1980's in mitochondria, centrioles,
and chloroplasts.
For many years, Margulis was criticized and ridiculed for her
"radical" thinking. However, Margulis pursued onward, which lead
to the general acceptance of her theory.
Plant Cell 
Bacteria 
Currently, Margulis is on the science council of NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts. She also co-directs NASA's Planetary Biology Internship Program. Along with these roles, Margulis keeps up with her research. She is currently studying bacterial symbionts of termites and of protists from microbial mat communities, which she enjoys a great deal. Her ongoing research to support her endosymbiotic theory continues as she collects more data each day to support her theory.
The information was taken from: http://keywestliteraryseminar.org/science/margulis.html. This website contains recent information about Dr. Lynn Margulis, along with biographical information and her research. Also, the picture of Dr. Lynn Margulis as well as other information was taken from: http://www.geo.umass.edu/faculty/margulis. This web page was made by Liz Sehi.