Feature Article The Spanish Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Development of Biochemistry in Spain, and IUBMB

An account such as this includes lots of important actors. To avoid forgetting anybody, I have preferred to forget all: I give only the names for the older ones, although I also mention a few returned or half-returned distinguished expatriates who are leading now a new (for Spain) brand of Spanish research institutes. This text is purely a personal perspective based on my expe-rience as a SEBMB member since 1973 (although I am a full member from 1980 only). For information before that time, I have resorted to the book ‘‘Cuarenta años de la Sociedad Espa-ñola de Bioquı́mica y Biologı́a Molecular 1963–2003,’ ’ edited by Emilio Muñoz et al. (see ref. 9), as well as other written records (see reference list). I have resorted also to oral stories, such as the recollections of the Madrid FEBS meeting by Julio Rodrı́guez Villanueva and Carlos Gancedo, both ex-Chairmen of FEBS, and both privileged participants in that event. I have had first-hand accounts of other aspects of Spanish biochemical history from Santiago Grisolı́a and from Severo Ochoa, Alberto Sols and Francisco Grande Covián, the last three regrettably deceased. Since I did not take written notes, I may have misinter-preted or misremembered something of what they told me. There-fore, any errors that might be found are my entire responsibility. THE PRE-SPANISH CIVIL WAR YEAR