Thomas Robert Cech is an American chemist renowned for his revolutionary discovery regarding the catalytic properties of RNA, work that was jointly recognized with a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1989, which he shared with Sidney Altman. His groundbreaking finding revealed that RNA could catalyze the cleavage of its own strands, leading to a new understanding of the potential origins of life centered on RNA. This discovery proposed that RNA could not only convey genetic messages but could also catalyze chemical reactions essential for life.

Tom Cech's research interests extended to the study of telomeres, where his laboratory identified the enzyme TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase), a key component in the maintenance of telomeres during cell division. His contributions to science go beyond the laboratory as he has been an advocate for science education through his role as president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Furthermore, Cech imparts his knowledge to the next generation by teaching an undergraduate chemistry course at the University of Colorado.