Person
Coates, John Hewlett (1932 - 2016)
- Born
- 10 August 1932
Ringstead, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom - Died
- 10 June 2016
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Occupation
- Biophysical chemist
Summary
John Coates was a biophysical chemist who was a pioneer in the field in Australia and had a distinguished career in the Department of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Adelaide. With Denis Jordan he worked on the effect of heat on the stability of DNA and the retardation of its chain melting by electrolytes. This fundamental work provided the basis for modern molecular biology, in particular the current application of polymerase chain reaction. Later research was on rapid reaction kinetics, kinetic application of lineshape analysis, and the chemistry of cyclosextrins and their inclusion complex formation. Coates was noted for the instruments he designed for use in his Department, including stop-flow systems, temperature-jump spectrometer and pressure pump apparatus.
Details
Chronology
- 1954
- Life event - Migrated to Australia
- 1957 - 1958
- Career position - Lecturer in Agricultural Chemistry, Department of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, University of Adelaide
- 1959 - 1963
- Career position - Lecturer in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, University of Adelaide
- 1964 - 1993
- Career position - Senior Lecturer, Department of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, University of Adelaide
- 1993
- Life event - Retired
Related entries
Published resources
Book Sections
- Coates, John, 'Jordan, Denis Oswald (1914 - 1982), physical and inorganic chemist' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 17: 1981 - 1990 A-K, Diane Langmore, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2007), p. 596. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/jordan-denis-oswald-12707. Details
Journal Articles
- Clarke, Ronald J., 'John Hewlett Coates, 1932 - 2016, biophysical chemist', Chemistry in Australia, 2016/7 (Dec/Jan) (2017), 34. Details
- Coates, J. H., 'Denis Oswald Jordan 1914-82', Historical Records of Australian Science, 6 (2) (1985), 237-246. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR9850620237. Details
Resources
- 'Coates, John Hewlett (19320810-20160610)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1772636. Details
Resource Sections
- Coates, J. H., 'Denis Oswald Jordan 1914-1982', in Australian Academy of Science Biographical Memoirs, Australian Academy of Science, 1985, https://www.science.org.au/fellowship/fellows/biographical-memoirs/denis-oswald-jordan-1914-1982. Details
Helen Cohn
Created: 5 December 2017, Last modified: 3 July 2018