Leonard Adleman is best known in the field of computing for his work on the development of the RSA system for data encryption (cryptography). He also created a system for calculating with prime numbers, developed a DNA computer, and saw the birth of the computer virus.

Leonard Max Adleman was born in San Francisco in 1945. After receiving schooling in the local area, Adleman went to the University of California at Berkeley to study for his undergraduate degree in mathematics. This was not his first choice for an academic career--he initially wanted to become a chemist, then a medical doctor, before finally settling upon mathematics. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in 1968. After graduation Adleman spent a period of time working as a programmer for the Bank of America before attending San Francisco State College, where he briefly studied physics. He then returned to the University of...