John Hamerton - a tribute

Thursday this week, I attended a memorial service for John Hamerton, a good friend and an incredible person.

John Hamerton was for much of his life a world leader in cytogenetics - the study of human chromosomes. He led the way in determining that as humans we have 46 chromosomes. His research was important in laying the basic scientific foundations for bone marrow transplantation, and for understanding the inheritance of a number of genetic disorders. John was the founding head of the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Manitoba.

In his later years, John and his wife Irene took up sheep farming, and used his knowledge of genetics in breeding high quality sheep stock. John was present at many agricultural meetings and served for a period as President of the Manitoba Sheep Association.

John will be missed. My condolences to family and friends.