Cram, Donald James (1919-2001), an American chemist, pioneered the building of artificial molecules. He succeeded in synthesizing molecules that are able to behave like the molecules of living things, in that they "recognize" and attach themselves to specific atoms. The molecules Cram produced have many practical applications. They are used to control chemical reactions. They are also used in medicines, delivering active ingredients in controlled dosages long after the medicine has been taken. Cram shared the 1987 Nobel Prize for chemistry with Jean-Marie Lehn of France and Charles J. Pedersen of the United States.