1935年2月20日生于上海市，九三学社社员。1957年9月毕业于上海复旦大学化学系。1957年至今在中国科学院上海生化细胞所进行科研(研究实习员，助理研究员，副研究员，研究员，科学院院士)。从事放射生物学、激素对基因转录调控，近十年来进行精子在附睾中成熟的分子机制研究。1983-1999年间在英国ICRF、美国Chicago大学、Wisconsin大学(Madison)、North Carolina大学、荷兰ERUSMUS大学、澳大利亚Sydney大学等进行合作科研。从1993年至今，先后获得国家自然科学三等奖和二等奖、中科院自然科学一等奖、第二届科技十大女杰、上海市自然科学一等奖和科技功臣和何梁何利生命科学奖等

主要从事雄激素对真核基因转录调控机制研究和睾丸生精过程中及附睾对精子成熟过程中的基因表达程序的调控，现集中在附睾功能基因组研究

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