Chance, Britton

Chance, Britton

(1913–  ) biophysicist, biochemist; born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He spent his professional career at the University of Pennsylvania, while concurrently serving as an adviser to many committees and institutions. From 1936–46 he invented many automatic control systems, precision-timing circuits, and optical instruments used for radar and ship-steering in World War II. His best-known work is his demonstration of the existence of the complex formed between an enzyme and its substrate (1943). He described the mechanism of action of the enzyme peroxidase, and made major contributions to studies of enzyme kinetics, spectroscopy, and mitochondrial function.

The Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography, by John S. Bowman. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995. Reproduced with permission.