Biologist at Caltech Shares Prize for Genetics Research

The Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded a $338,000 prize Friday to scientists from the United States and Britain for their work in behavioral genetics.

Half of the Crafoord Prize for 1993 went to Caltech biologist Seymour Benzer for his studies on behavioral mutants in the fruit fly.

British zoologist William Hamilton at the University of Oxford shared the prestigious prize for his theories on kin selection and genetic relationship in the evolution of altruistic behavior.

The academy, which also chooses the Nobel science prizes, praised the two researchers for their “outstanding and thought-provoking approach,” which led to research on the genetic mechanisms governing behavior among animals.

The Crafoord Prize is funded by a foundation of the same name to promote original research in mathematics, astronomy, biology and geology--subjects not covered by the Nobel awards.