Jérôme Lejeune
1926–1994 (age 68)
Biography
Jérôme Jean Louis Marie Lejeune (French pronunciation: [ʒeʁom ʒɑ̃ lwi maʁi ləʒœn]; 13 June 1926 – 3 April 1994) was a French pediatrician and geneticist. He is best known for his work on the links between chromosome abnormalities like Down syndrome (trisomy-21) and cri du chat syndrome. He is also known for his subsequent strong opposition to the use of amniocentesis prenatal testing for eugenic purposes through selective and elective abortion. He is venerated in the Catholic Church, having been declared Venerable by Pope Francis on 21 January 2021.