In recognition of his contributions to the knowledge of molecular biology and genetics, including his inspiring investigations of the nucleic acids which have shown how genetic information can be impressed and stored in the germ cells of parents and be transmitted to succeeding generations, his studies of the molecular structure of collagen and especially his brilliant development of the 'coding' theory - a concept which explains the way in which information carried in the genes determines the amino acid sequence and therefore the structure and character of all the many different proteins which are continuously being synthesized by the living organism. His theories and discoveries have opened vast avenues through which greater understanding of the basic processes of life may be achieved.
