Earnest Everett Just

E. E. just was a distinguished scientist, and one of the pioneers of cellular and developmental biology. His experiments on fertilization and embryonic development are regarded as classics in the field. His investigation of the blocks to polyspermy, the mechanisms by which eggs prevent fertilization by two or more sperm, laid the groundwork for the modern use of fertilization as an experimental system in cell biology.

Just was was born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1883, educated at Dartmouth College, and served as Professor at Howard University. He died from pancreatic cancer in 1942.

The links below contain information about the life and times of this remarkable scientist.

The American Society for Cell Biology sponsors an annual E. E. Just Memorial Lecture:
http://www.ascb.org/committees/mac/eejust.htm

A site devoted to African Americans in Science has a page devoted to Just:
http://www.princeton.edu/~mcbrown/display/just.html

In 1996, Just was honored by a stamp in the Black Heritage series:
http://library.thinkquest.org/2667/Just.htm

The slow block to polyspermy, as investigated by Just, is described here:
http://worms.zoology.wisc.edu/urchins/SUfert_slowblock1a.html

Just's stature is described in this account of his intereactions with geneticist Richard Goldschmidt written by Scott Gilbert:
http://www.devbio.com/chap04/link0402a.shtml

These pages containbiographical information about Just:
http://www.musc.edu/diversity/just/justbio.html
http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/Museum/ernest.html

Just has also been honored by his native Charleston, SC, on its "Science Walk:"
http://web2.ccpl.org/scienceproject/ScienceWalk/Ernest%20Everett%20Just.html