Jérôme Lejeune
Jérôme Lejeune | |
|---|---|
Lejeune in 1973 | |
| Born | 13 June 1926 Montrouge, Hauts-de-Seine, France |
| Died | 3 April 1994 (aged 67) Paris, France |
| Alma mater | Collège Stanislas de Paris Paris School of Medicine |
| Spouse(s) | Birthe Lejeune, née Bringsted |
| Children | Clara Gaymard |
| Awards | Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation Award (1962) William Allan Award (1969) Leopold Griffuel Prize (1992) |
| Scientific career | |
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| Institutions | |
Jérôme Jean Louis Marie Lejeune (French pronunciation: [ʒeʁom ʒɑ̃ lwi maʁi ləʒœn]; 13 June 1926 – 3 April 1994) was a French pediatrician and geneticist. He is best known for his work on the links between chromosome abnormalities and diseases like Down Syndrome (trisomy-21) and cri du chat syndrome. He is also known for his subsequent strong opposition to the use of amniocentesis prenatal testing for eugenic purposes through selective and elective abortion. He is venerated in the Catholic Church, having been declared Venerable by Pope Francis on 21 January 2021.