Joshua Lederberg was an American scientist born on May 23, 1925 in Montclair, New Jersey. He made important contributions to the field of molecular biology and genetic research. His pioneering work involved the discovery of specialized transduction, which explained how genes are transferred between bacteria. In 1958, at the age of 33, he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his research on the replication mechanism and genetic structure of viruses and bacteria. Lederberg also played a crucial role in the development of artificial intelligence and space exploration as a member of NASA’s Life Sciences Committee and as the founder of NASA’s exobiology program. Throughout his career, he was a professor and researcher at various prestigious institutions, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Stanford University. Joshua Lederberg passed away on February 2, 2008, leaving behind a profound legacy in several scientific disciplines.