Trained as a physician, Dr. Barres had an early interest in diseases of the brain. Dr. Barres sought to understand the normal functions of glial cells to understand what happened when things went awry. Dr. Barres also discovered that some glial cells — the astrocytes, in particular — could have harmful effects. After undergoing hormone treatments and surgery, Dr. Barres became known as Ben Barres in 1997. From the age of about 4, Dr. Barres, who had a fraternal twin sister, preferred boys’ toys and clothing.

Source: Washington Post December 30, 2017 20:26 UTC