Norman Lowther Edson

Norman Edson (1904–1970) PhD (Cantab) BMedSc (NZ) MB ChB (NZ) FRSNZ FNZIC, was the first Professor of Biochemistry (1949–1967) in the University of New Zealand based at the University of Otago Dunedin, New Zealand. Edson made contributions to knowledge of cellular intermediary metabolism; developed a system of education in the elements of biochemistry for students of medicine, dentistry, and home science; a programme for a training in biochemistry leading to BSc/MSc; supervised postgraduate students in biochemistry to PhD; and was the medical member of the enquiry on the fluoridation of the New Zealand public water supply.^[1]

Early Life

Edson was the only surviving child of Norman Percival Edson (1868–1908), a pharmacist, and Phoebe, née Moses, a photographic colourist. Following her husband's early death Phoebe Edson did not remarry but devoted herself to caring for her only child. Family money provided a comfortable home. At Auckland Grammar School Edson won a Junior National Scholarship (1921) and was in the top ten Scholars for New Zealand.^[2] He entered the University of Otago School of Medicine in 1922 and his mother moved to Dunedin to housekeep for him. In 1927 he graduated Bachelor of Medical Science (BMedSc), the first to do so. Edson had a distinguished undergraduate career gaining four prizes and graduated MB ChB with distinction.^[3] Edson excelled at hockey and represented his School, University, Province and New Zealand.^[4]

Postgraduate Education

After graduating Edson spent two years jointly in the Departments of Chemistry and of Physiology at Otago University and received a Certificate of Proficiency in Chemistry in 1932 with a thesis on catalysis of oxybenzoic acids.^[5] Also as Assistant Lecturer in Physiology he gave practical classes and lectured on Biochemistry. By then he had decided Biochemistry was his subject. From this period Edson published two papers, both impressively well written and displaying careful, systematic experimental method.^[6][7] In 1933 Edson won a Beit Memorial Medical Fellowship and spent two years at Cambridge University at the Sir William Dunn Institute of Biochemistry whose Director was Frederick Gowland Hopkins. Edson became Hans Adolf Krebs's first PhD student, a wonderfully stimulating and productive experience. Edson spent from the Easter term of 1934 to the Easter term of 1936 in Cambridge (Emmanuel College), two instead of the usual three years of the PhD, and the term of the Fellowship. His mother's ill-health required an early return to New Zealand. His thesis, Studies in Intermediary Metabolism, gained him his PhD in December 1936.^[8] Krebs became a lifelong friend, a long-range source of scientific advice, a host for Edson's future postgraduate students and his own sabbatical in 1956. Krebs, in his reminiscences refers to Edson twice: "With Norman Edson, a medical graduate and PhD student from New Zealand, I studied the formation of ketone bodies in liver slices." And in the index to people in the book, "Edson, Norman Lowther (1904-1970). New Zealand biochemist, Otago. My collaborator in Cambridge." ^[9] Edson also befriended Luis Federico Leloir and collaborated with him on keto-genesis.^[10] Edson dedicated his 1966 paper on glucogenesis from sorbitol to LeLoir to celebrate Leloir's 60th birthday.^[11] Edson also became acquainted with Ernst Chain, and D D Wood. In 1935 Edson attended the 15th International Congress of Physiology at Moscow. He subsequently told of hearing Ivan Pavlov speak and the destitution in the Moscow streets with the hungry placing their noses against the window looking at the plenty on the tables on the other side.

From Edson's Cambridge work came seven papers, all published in the Biochemical Journal. Two papers were co-authored with Krebs, on the micro-determination of uric acid and on the avian synthesis of uric acid; one with LeLoir on ketone metabolism.^[12] The four where he was the sole author were on ketogenesis.^[13] Edson returned to New Zealand and became Lecturer in Biochemistry at Otago University.

Academic Life in New Zealand

Marriage and family

Edson married Suzanne Moor (1917–2009), a medical student, in 1938. Edson was 34, Suzanne 21. They had three children.

References

1. ^ Batt, R.D., Norman Lowther Edson 1904-1970. Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 1970. 99: p. 106-110.
2. ^ Trembarth, K.A., Ad Augusta Per Angusta: A Centennial History of Auckland Grammar School 1869-1969. 1969, Auckland: Auckland Grammar School Old Boy's Association.
3. ^ Carmalt Jones, D.W., Annals of the University of Otago Medical School 1875-1939. 1945, Wellington: Reed.
4. ^ Otago University Students Association, Men's Hockey. Otago University Review, 1926-28, 1932.
5. ^ Edson, N.L., Catalytic hydrogenation of oxybenzoic acids., in Chemistry. 1932, Otago University.
6. ^ Edson, N.L., The catalytic hydrogenation of the hydroxybenzoic acids in aqueous solution. Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry., 1934. 53(19): p. 138-139.
7. ^ Edson, N.L., The liver pigments of New Zealand oysters and toheroas. New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology., 1934. 15(6): p. 395-397.
8. ^ Edson, N.L., Studies in Intermediary Metabolism, in Faculty of Biology 'B'. Biochemistry. 1936, Cambridge: Cambridge.
9. ^ Krebs, H.A., Reminiscences and Reflections. 1981, Oxford: Clarendon.
10. ^ Edson, N.L. and L.F. LeLoir, Ketogenesis-antiketogenesis: Metabolism of ketone bodies. Biochemical Journal, 1936. 30: p. 2319-32.
11. ^ Loten, E.G., I.L. MacGregor, and N.L. Edson, Glucogenesis from sorbitol U-14C in liver slices of starved rats. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 1966. 116: p. 352-357.
12. ^ Edson, N.L., H.A. Krebs, and A. Model, The synthesis of uric acid in the avian organism: hypoxanthine as an intermediary metabolite. Biochemical Journal, 1936. 30: p. 1380-1385. Edson, N.L. and H.A. Krebs, Micro-determination of uric acid. Biochemical Journal, 1936. 30: p. 732-735. Edson, N.L. and L.F. LeLoir, Ketogenesis-antiketogenesis: Metabolism of ketone bodies. Biochemical Journal, 1936. 30: p. 2319-32.
13. ^ Edson, N.L., Ketogenesis-antiketogenesis: Ketogenesis from amino-acids. Biochemical Journal, 1935. 29: p. 2498-505. Edson, N.L., Ketogenesis-antiketogenesis: The influence of ammonium chloride on ketone-body formation in liver. Biochemical Journal, 1935. 29: p. 2082-94. Edson, N.L., Ketogenesis-antiketogenesis: Substrate competition in liver. Biochemical Journal, 1936. 30: p. 1862-1869. Edson, N.L., Ketogenesis-antiketogenesis: Metabolism of aldehydes and dicarboxylic acids. Biochemical Journal, 1936. 30.: p. 1855-1861.

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Name	Edson, Norman Lowther
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Date of birth	1904
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Date of death	1970
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