Mary Lilias Christian Bernheim was a British biochemist best known for her discovery of the enzyme tyramine oxidase, which was later renamed as monoamine oxidase.
10 Facts About Mary Bernheim
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Mary Bernheim obtained higher degrees of BA, MA, and PhD from the University of Cambridge in England.
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Mary Bernheim discovered that the oxidation of tyramine did take place, with the observation that one atom of oxygen was absorbed per molecule of tyramine present.
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Mary Bernheim noted that the methylene blue dye used in the experiment was not reduced.
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Mary Bernheim detected that the enzyme facilitated the occurrence of deamination in tyramine, along with the process of oxidation.
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In 1930, Mary Bernheim was appointed as a member of the original faculty of Duke Medical School.
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When she began at Duke, Mary Bernheim was notably one of few women in the Department of Biochemistry, either as a student or faculty member.
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Mary Bernheim eventually became a full professor at Duke, and was teaching graduate students, medical students, and nursing students.
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Mary Bernheim published a book "A Sky of My Own," in which she details her journey into the field of flying, and describes her experience as a pilot and flight instructor.
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Mary Bernheim was recognised for her contributions to scientific research, and she was honoured at the Ciba Foundation symposium held in 1975 for her discovery of monoamine oxidase.