Cyril Clarke Biography

Sir Cyril Astley Clarke was a British physicist and scientist known for his pioneering work on prevention of Rh hemolytic disease of the newborn, a potentially fatal disease that may occur when a fetus and its mother have incompatible blood Rh factors. Once it was believed by the medical fraternity that there was no way of preventing this disease but the enterprising doctor proved the naysayers wrong by working along with a dedicated team of medical practitioners to develop a treatment for this dangerous condition. He was not just a highly skilled physician, but also a renowned geneticist and lepidopterist. His life-long interest in butterflies and moths began in his childhood when he became fascinated with swallowtail butterflies. He would induce the butterflies to mate and study the inheritance of wing pigmentation and mimicry. This childhood interest led him to study human genetics as well. Even though he achieved worldwide acclaim for his work on the prevention of Rh hemolytic disease of the newborn, his work ranged through life insurance practice, consultant physician and professor of medicine. Considered by his peers to be slightly eccentric, he called himself a “dilettante” and felt that his work was “fun”. He retained a child-like curiosity throughout life and was very dedicated towards his profession.