EducationMarch 23, 2026

How J. Michael Bishop Changed Cancer Research and UCSF

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② Start Lesson

Key Vocabulary

scientist/ˈsaɪən.tɪst/

a person who studies the natural world

"She works as a scientist in a lab."

gene/dʒiːn/

a part of DNA that gives instructions for traits

"A gene can affect eye color."

chancellor/ˈtʃæn.səl.ɚ/

the leader of a university

"The chancellor spoke at the meeting."

Listening

How J. Michael Bishop Changed Cancer Research and UCSF

J. Michael Bishop is an American scientist who worked at the University of California, San Francisco. He studied viruses that can change cells. He and Harold Varmus showed that cancer genes can come from normal cell genes. They called the normal forms proto‑oncogenes and this idea changed cancer research.

Bishop served as chancellor of UCSF from 1998 to 2009. He led the creation and first development of the Mission Bay campus and helped expand biomedical research space. Today many researchers build on his discoveries.

84 words

Quiz

1. Where did J. Michael Bishop work?

2. What name did Bishop and Varmus give to the normal forms of cancer genes?

3. When was Bishop chancellor of UCSF?

Reading Practice

Read the article from the Listening section aloud. Your AI teacher will give you pronunciation feedback.

Discussion

Do you know a scientist whose work has affected your life? Who is it and why?

Have you ever visited a university campus that surprised you? What did you see?

What do you think is more important for a university: research or teaching? Why?