Christopher Chetsanga
{{Short description|Zimbabwean scientist}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Christopher J Chetsanga
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1935|8|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = Murehwa, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)
| nationality = Zimbabwean
| field = Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
| image = Christopher_Chetsanga.jpg
| caption = Christopher Chetsanga demonstrates to students how to do an experiment
| work_institution = Harvard University
University of Michigan
University of Zimbabwe
Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre
Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University
| alma_mater = University of California
Pepperdine University
University of Toronto
| thesis_title =
| thesis_url =
| doctoral_advisor =
| doctoral_students =
| known_for = Discovery of two enzymes involved in DNA repair
Academic administration
| prizes =
| religion =
| footnotes=
}}
Christopher J. Chetsanga (born 1935 in Murehwa, Rhodesia) is a prominent Zimbabwean scientist who is a member of the African Academy of Sciences and The World Academy of Sciences.AAS. [http://www.aasciences.org/index.php/zimbambwe/176-chetsanga-j-christophe-prof "Chetsanga, J. Christophe, Prof."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903105644/http://www.aasciences.org/index.php/zimbambwe/176-chetsanga-j-christophe-prof |date=2014-09-03 }}, Fellow of AAS since 1986; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nairobi, unknown. Retrieved on 28 August 2014.{{Cite web |title=Christopher Chetsanga - Pepperdine's Outstanding Alumni Abroad {{!}} Pepperdine University |url=https://www.pepperdine.edu/alumni/outstanding-alumni/abroad/profiles/christopher-chetsanga.htm |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=www.pepperdine.edu}} He discovered two enzymes involved in DNA repair. He has also held various academic administrative posts like Vice-Chancellor, Director and Dean.
Biography
Chetsanga was born in Murewa, Zimbabwe on 22 August 1935,{{cite web |title=CHETSANGA Christopher J. |url=https://twas.org/directory/chetsanga-christopher-j |website=TWAS |publisher=The World Academy of Science |accessdate=19 July 2020}} and was baptised in 1948. In his youth, he was educated at Nhowe Mission, and went on to study at University of California, Berkeley where he received his BSc in 1965. Chetsanga also studied for a period at Pepperdine University.{{cite book |last1=David Mubvumbi |first1=Paradzayi |title=Christianity And Traditional Religions Of Zimbabwe : Contrasts And Similarities. |date=2016 |publisher=Westbow Press |isbn=9781512745108 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jWFiDAAAQBAJ |accessdate=19 July 2020}} In 1969, he received his MSc and PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology from University of Toronto before becoming a post doctoral fellow at Harvard University between 1969 and 1972. Between 1972 and 1983 he became a professor at the University of Michigan, then in 1983 he left to become the senior lecturer in Biochemistry for University of Zimbabwe.{{cite news |title=Prof. Christopher James Chetsanga |url=https://www.uz.ac.zw/index.php/departments-sci/169-biochemistry/1003-prof-christopher-james-chetsanga |accessdate=19 July 2020|work=University of Zimbabwe}} In 1990, President Robert Mugabe awarded him President’s Award for Distinguished Contribution to Science and Technology.{{cite news |title=EAI International Conference for Research, Innovation and Development for Africa |url=http://acridconference.org/2017/show/keynotes |accessdate=19 July 2020 |work=EAI |date=June 2017}}{{cite web |title=Chetsanga Christopher |url=https://www.aasciences.africa/fellow/chetsanga-christopher |website=African Academy of Sciences |accessdate=19 July 2020}} Has also awarded the Order of the Star of Zimbabwe.{{Cite web |last=Ziana |first=New |date=2021-08-09 |title=Zimbabwe awards civilian heroes - New Ziana |url=https://newziana.co.zw/2021/08/09/zimbabwe-awards-civilian-heroes/,%20https://newziana.co.zw/2021/08/09/zimbabwe-awards-civilian-heroes/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |language=en-GB}} He is presently the vice chancellor at Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University.{{Cite web|title=Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University - Home|url=https://www.zegu.ac.zw/|access-date=2021-06-02|website=www.zegu.ac.zw}}
In 2004, when the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences was formed, Chetsanga was appointed the first president of the academy.{{cite news |title=OWSD Zimbabwe National Chapter is Launched |url=https://owsd.net/resources/news-events/owsd-zimbabwe-national-chapter-launched |accessdate=19 July 2020 |work=Organization for women in science for the developing world |date=20 November 2018}} Chetsanga advocated the use of genetically modified food sources as a possible solution for food shortages in Africa in 2020.{{cite news |title=GMB to import GMO Maize |url=http://www.newsdzezimbabwe.co.uk/2020/04/gmb-to-import-gmo-maize.html |accessdate=19 July 2020 |work=NewsdzeZimbabwe |date=23 April 2020}}
Scientific Achievements
Chetsanga has discovered two enzymes involved in the repair of damaged DNA: firstly, formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase, which removes damaged 7-methylguanine from DNA (1979),{{cite journal
| author = Chetsanga, C.J. |author2=Lindahl, T. | year = 1979 | title = Release of 7-methylguanine residues whose imidazole rings have been opened from damaged DNA by a DNA glycosylase from Escherichia coli
| journal = Nucleic Acids Res | volume = 6 | issue = 11 | pages = 3673–84 | doi = 10.1093/nar/6.11.3673
| pmid = 386277
| pmc = 327965 }} and secondly, purine imidazole-ring cyclase, which re-closes imidazole rings of guanine and adenine damaged by x-irradiation (1985).{{cite journal | author = Chetsanga, C.J. |author2=Grigorian, C. | year = 1985 | title = In situ enzymatic reclosure of opened imidazole rings of purines in DNA damaged by gamma-irradiation | journal = Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | volume = 82 | issue = 3 | pages = 633–637 | doi = 10.1073/pnas.82.3.633 | pmid = 3856219 | pmc = 397099 | jstor=25324|bibcode=1985PNAS...82..633C |doi-access=free }}
According to Chetsanga, his research focus in his scientific career has been on DNA and RNA structural and functional details as they relate to cellular metabolism and disease development.{{cite web |title=Christopher J. Chetsanga |url=https://www.pepperdine.edu/alumni/outstanding-alumni-abroad/profiles/christopher-chetsanga.htm |website=Pepperdine |accessdate=19 July 2020}}
Select publications
- {{Cite Q|Q59071826}}
- {{Cite Q|Q24632415}}
- {{Cite Q|Q24568209}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070822154252/http://www.uz.ac.zw/science/biochemistry/chetsanga.html Brief Curriculum Vitae, University of Zimbabwe, Department of Biochemistry]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chetsanga, Christopher}}
Category:Zimbabwean scientists
Category:People from Mashonaland East Province
Category:University of California alumni
Category:Pepperdine University alumni
Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni
Category:University of Toronto alumni
Category:University of Michigan faculty
Category:Academic staff of the University of Zimbabwe