Training in genetics
Born in the Bronx, Lederberg graduated from Hunter College in 1942, received a master’s degree at Stanford in 1946 and completed her doctorate at Wisconsin in 1950. Her subsequent experimental work focused on bacterial genetics.
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Lambda phage and replica plating
Her 1951 report of lambda phage introduced a temperate virus that became important for studying recombination and gene regulation. In 1952 she and Joshua developed replica plating, comparing corresponding colonies under different conditions to test whether mutations such as resistance had already been present.
Research resources at Stanford
She returned to Stanford in 1959 and began directing its Plasmid Reference Center in 1976. Preserving strains and documenting and sharing materials supported collaboration across laboratories. She continued laboratory involvement after retirement.