Maniatis also said that he was "devastated" that ptashne had decided to leave Harvard and that his departure was "a major loss for the department-for Harvard." He said that Ptashne, "in many ways, sort of defined the culture of the department."

However, some former students were not as flattering in their portrayal of Ptashne.

One student, who asked not to be identified, said that she thought Ptashne was not a very good teacher because his lectures were disorganized.

"I think he spent more time on his research than he did on his teaching. He pretty much told us that himself," she said.

But other students said that Ptashne's vast research experience helped make him a better instructor.

"I really liked him," said Catherine K. Huang '98. "I thought that he presented his research that he had done in a way that was easily understandable."

Huang also said that A Genetic Switch was a major factor in her decision to pursue molecular biology further.

According to the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, as part of his award, Ptashne "will receive an honorarium, a citation highlighting his achievements, and an inscribed statuette of the winged Victory of Samothrace, the Foundations's traditional symbol of humankind's victory over disability, disease and death.