Dr. Jean Weissenbach is recognized for his work in human molecular genetics, particularly his studies of the human sex chromosomes, linkage mapping and the mapping and cloning of disease genes. His studies of linkage led to the construction of the first extensive map of the human genome and greatly accelerated this field, while his own research on disease genes and his extensive network of collaborations demonstrated the usefulness of unpublished data from the genetic linkage map.

Dr. Weissenbach received his Ph.D. from the University of Strasbourg in Molecular Biology and has worked at the University of Strasbourg, the Pasteur Institute and Genethon. He is currently Director of Genoscope, the French National Sequencing Centre, which is actively contributing to the sequencing of genes on chromosome 14.