Wood, Harland G.

Wood, Harland G. (Goff)

(1907–91) biochemist; born in Delavan, Minn. He performed research at the University of Wisconsin (1935–36), where he and E. L. Tatum discovered that vitamin B12 is necessary to bacteria growth. He moved to Iowa State (1936–43), then became a professor at the University of Minnesota (1943–46). He joined Case Western Reserve (1946–78), remaining active in professional societies and in education after his retirement. He made major contributions to studies of biological energy systems, including the discovery that carbon dioxide is utilized by heterotrophic organisms.