John Atkins went from Dunmanway in county Cork to obtain his degrees from the Department of Genetics in Trinity College Dublin (where he is an Honorary Professor). His daughter, Tara, was once convinced he was a french fries salesman, but in reality John has always remained in genetics research and is currently a Research Professor at the University College Cork, as well as Research Professor of Human Genetics at Utah University.

David McConnell is the Professor of Genetics at the Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin. He is a member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation and the Royal Irish Academy. He received his PhD from the California Institute of Technology in 1971, and held an Eleanor Roosevelt Research Fellowship at Harvard University in 1976-77. He pioneered the development of molecular genetics and genetic engineering in Ireland.

Another donor has sponsored the project in memory of Arthur Edward James Went. Born in London, Arthur took his primary degree in London, and studied at Oslo University. He became Assistant Inspector of Fisheries in Dublin in 1936, and Inspector in 1938. His work was mainly on fishes both marine and fresh-water, and he specialised on the history of the Irish salmon and pilchard fisheries. He was a passionate advocate of Natural History and was a lifelong member of the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club.

The Irish Museums Trust, Fundúireacht Iarsmalanna na hÉireann, is a registered charity whose objects are For the advancement of education and for purposes beneficial to the community by aiding the educational work and development of the National Museum of Ireland and other Public Museums throughout Ireland. To this end the Trust is empowered, amongst other things, to acquire objects; sponsor exhibitions; accumulate funds, subscriptions and donations; and to carry out research projects. The fund has raised funds to support the sculpture in its role as an educational resource for the gardens.

Feargal Quinn is an independent member of Seanad Éireann. A successful businessman, he is the founder of the Superquinn supermarket chain, of which he remains non-executive president. He was first elected as a senator in 1993 from the National University of Ireland constituency and has been re-elected on four further occasions. He is the recipient of three honorary doctorates from Irish education institutions (NCEA, National University of Ireland and the University of Dublin) and of a papal knighthood. He shared with Oprah Winfrey the 2006 "Listener of the Year" award of the International Listening Association.

Jim Watson, co-discoverer of the DNA double helix, also made a generous donation to the sculpture, in addition to travelling to Ireland to inaugurate the piece on the 60th anniversary of his historic discovery.