# Margaret Oakley Dayhoff

> American biochemist (1925-1983)

**Wikidata**: [Q456920](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q456920)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Oakley_Dayhoff)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/margaret-oakley-dayhoff

## Summary

Margaret Oakley Dayhoff (March 11, 1925 – February 5, 1983) was a scientist born in Philadelphia[1] and died in Silver Spring[1]. A citizen of the United States, she worked as a biologist, bioinformatician, chemist, computer scientist, biochemist, and university teacher[2].Dayhoff attended New York University, Columbia University, and Bayside High School[2]. She was employed at Georgetown University and specialized in the field of bioinformatics[2]. Her work was influenced by George E. Kimball.

## Summary
Margaret Oakley Dayhoff was an American biochemist (1925–1983) who contributed to bioinformatics by pioneering computational methods in biochemistry. Her work laid early foundations for modern bioinformatics, combining biology, computer science, and statistics to analyze biological data.

## Biography
- Born: March 11, 1925, Philadelphia
- Nationality: United States
- Education:
  - Bayside High School
  - New York University
  - Columbia University (PhD in biochemistry)
- Known for: Developing early computational approaches in biochemistry and bioinformatics
- Employer(s): Georgetown University
- Field(s): Biochemistry, bioinformatics, computer science

## Contributions
Margaret Oakley Dayhoff made foundational contributions to bioinformatics by applying computational methods to biochemistry. Her work influenced the field's shift toward data-driven biological research. She collaborated with George E. Kimball and others to create early databases and algorithms for analyzing protein sequences and structures. Her research helped standardize biological data representation, a precursor to modern bioinformatics tools. While her most cited work is often cited as "Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure" (1965), her legacy lies in bridging biology and computer science, a critical early step in bioinformatics.

## FAQs
### Q: What was Margaret Oakley Dayhoff's primary field of work?
A: Margaret Oakley Dayhoff was a biochemist and bioinformatician who applied computational methods to biological data, laying groundwork for modern bioinformatics.

### Q: Where did Margaret Oakley Dayhoff work?
A: She was affiliated with Georgetown University and contributed to bioinformatics research during her career.

### Q: What was her most significant contribution to science?
A: Her work in developing computational tools for analyzing protein sequences and structures was pivotal in early bioinformatics.

### Q: Who influenced Margaret Oakley Dayhoff?
A: She was influenced by George E. Kimball and other scientists who combined biology and computer science.

### Q: What awards or honors did she receive?
A: She was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, but no other awards are recorded in the source material.

## Why They Matter
Margaret Oakley Dayhoff's work bridged biology and computer science, pioneering methods that became essential in bioinformatics. Her early efforts in data analysis and protein structure prediction influenced later developments in computational biology. Without her contributions, the field of bioinformatics might have taken longer to emerge. Her legacy endures in the foundational tools and databases she helped create, which remain foundational to modern research.

## Notable For
- Pioneered computational biochemistry, a precursor to bioinformatics.
- Developed early databases and algorithms for protein analysis.
- Trained at Columbia University, earning a PhD in biochemistry.
- Member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
- Influenced by George E. Kimball in her interdisciplinary approach.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Margaret Oakley Dayhoff was born on March 11, 1925, in Philadelphia. She attended Bayside High School and later earned degrees from New York University and Columbia University, where she completed her PhD in biochemistry.

### Career and Research
Dayhoff worked at Georgetown University and specialized in applying computational methods to biochemistry. Her research focused on protein sequences and structures, contributing to early bioinformatics. She collaborated with George E. Kimball and others to develop tools for biological data analysis.

### Legacy in Bioinformatics
Her work laid the groundwork for modern bioinformatics by combining biology, computer science, and statistics. While her most cited work is often cited as "Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure" (1965), her broader impact was in standardizing biological data representation. Her interdisciplinary approach influenced later scientists in computational biology.

### Personal and Professional Recognition
Dayhoff was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. She died on February 5, 1983, in Silver Spring. Her contributions remain foundational in bioinformatics, though her work was not as widely recognized during her lifetime as it is today.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. [Source](http://www.biology.arizona.edu/biochemistry/problem_sets/aa/Dayhoff.html)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. CiNii Research
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Quora