Margarita Salas: the architect of molecular biology in Spain
Margarita Salas (1938–2019) was one of the most influential figures in the history of Spanish science and an undisputed pioneer of molecular biology. Born in Asturias, her scientific career was marked by determination, curiosity, and the will to open new paths for research in Spain at a time when the presence of women in laboratories was very limited.
After graduating in Chemical Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid, she worked alongside Severo Ochoa—Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1959—at New York University. There she delved into the emerging field of molecular biology, a field that would radically transform the understanding of vital processes at a genetic and biochemical level.
Upon her return to Spain in the 1960s, together with her husband, Eladio Viñuela, she founded the country's first major molecular genetics research group at the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center (CBMSO). Her work on the bacteriophage φ29 (phi29) led to the discovery of a DNA polymerase with an extraordinary replication capacity and fidelity. Decades later, this enzyme became a fundamental tool for DNA amplification, with applications in medical diagnosis, forensic research, and modern biotechnology.
Throughout her career, Margarita Salas received numerous accolades, including the L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science (2000) and the Santiago Ramón y Cajal National Research Award (1999). She was also the first woman to hold a chair in the Royal Spanish Academy, where she worked to make visible the role of women scientists in the history of knowledge.
Her legacy extends beyond laboratories: she inspired generations of researchers and helped consolidate Spanish science on the international stage, demonstrating that talent and perseverance can transform entire scientific ecosystems.
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