Dr Rogers has long been recognised as an authority on the structure of keratin and was a pioneer in the application of electron microscopy to hair and wool ultrastructure and to that of the hair follicle. He was also the discoverer of the existence of citrulline in keratin proteins. His more recent work has been concerned with the biogenesis of keratins which has lead to the group under his direction making major advances in the field of the molecular biology of keratin production. In this the keratins of feathers have been characterised as an homologous group of proteins, messenger RNA for keratin isolated in pure form and in vitro keratin synthesis has been achieved. By using complementary DNA to the messenger an elegant study of the arrangement and control of keratin genes in the chromosome is possible and is well under way.