Background
Steinberg, Malcolm Saul was born on June 1, 1930 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States. Son of Morris and Esther (Lerner) Steinberg.
Steinberg, Malcolm Saul was born on June 1, 1930 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States. Son of Morris and Esther (Lerner) Steinberg.
Bachelor, Amherst College, 1952. Master of Arts, University Minnesota, 1954. Doctor of Philosophy, University Minnesota, 1956.
Steinberg proposed that when cells form distinct tissues, specific cell-cell adhesion between cells from the same tissue can drive the separation. He further proposed that a difference in level of cell adhesion molecules expression between two cell types was sufficient to drive the separation. Steinberg pioneered work in characterizing the physical properties of cells and tissues.
He proposed that cell-cell adhesion drives tissue rounding up and, comparing tissues to liquids, he proposed that tissues have a surface tension.
To measure tissue surface tension, he participated in building a compression device for rounded tissues. Steinberg completed his Bachelor of Science at Amherst College in 1952, his Doctor of Philosophy in zoology at the University of Minnesota in 1956, was a professor of biology at Johns Hopkins University from 1958 to 1966, and transferred to Princeton University in 1966, becoming professor emeritus in 2005.
Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science. Member American Association of University Professors, Society Comparative Integrative Biology (program officer division development biology 1966-1969, chairman elect, then chairman 1982-1985), American Society Cell Biology, International Society Development Biologists, International Society Differentation (board directors 1995-2000), Society Development Biology (trustee, secretary 1970-1973), Sigma Xi.
Children: Jeffery, Julie, Eleanor, Catherine. Married Marjorie Campbell, 1983.