# Thomas Hunt Morgan

_American biologist and professor from Kentucky (1866–1945)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/thomas-hunt-morgan
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Thomas Hunt Morgan  (September 25, 1866 – December 4, 1945) was an American evolutionary biologist, geneticist, and embryologist. In 1933, he won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries on the role of chromosomes in heredity.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 25 September 1866 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q177681#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Lexington ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q177681#P19))
- **Died:** 4 December 1945 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q177681#P570))
- **Place of death:** Pasadena ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q177681#P20))
- **Citizenship:** United States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q177681#P27))
- **Occupation:** evolutionary biologist; geneticist; zoologist; physician; university teacher; physiologist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q177681#P106))
- **Education:** Johns Hopkins University; University of Kentucky; Columbia University ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q177681#P69))
- **Spouse:** Lilian Vaughan Morgan ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q177681#P26))
- **Awards:** Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; Copley Medal; Darwin Medal; Croonian Medal and Lecture; Foreign Member of the Royal Society; Silliman Memorial Lectures; doctor honoris causa from the University of Paris ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q177681#P166))

## About

Morgan received his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in zoology in 1890 and researched embryology during his tenure at Bryn Mawr. Following the rediscovery of Mendelian inheritance in 1900, Morgan began to study the genetic characteristics of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. In his famous Fly Room at Columbia University's Schermerhorn Hall, Morgan demonstrated that genes are carried on chromosomes and are the mechanical basis of heredity. These discoveries formed the basis of the modern science of genetics.

During his distinguished career, Morgan wrote 22 books and 370 scientific papers. As a result of his work, Drosophila became a major model organism in contemporary genetics. The Division of Biology which he established at the California Institute of Technology has produced seven Nobel Prize winners.

## Questions

**When was Thomas Hunt Morgan born?**  
Thomas Hunt Morgan was born on 25 September 1866 in Lexington.

**Where did Thomas Hunt Morgan study?**  
Thomas Hunt Morgan was educated at Johns Hopkins University, University of Kentucky, Columbia University.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Thomas Hunt Morgan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hunt_Morgan) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q177681](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q177681) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Thomas Hunt Morgan.jpg by Unknown author Unknown author (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_Hunt_Morgan.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Thomas Hunt Morgan, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Thomas Hunt Morgan.jpg — Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Thomas Hunt Morgan". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/thomas-hunt-morgan. Retrieved 6 November 2026.