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Born in 1927, George Streisinger started his life in Budapest, Hungry to Hungarian- Jewish parents. Due to Nazi persecution, his family was forced to leave hungry, moving to New York when Streisinger was only ten years old. After finishing his primary education in public schools in New York, Streisinger moved on to attend Cornell University, obtaining his B.S. in genetics. From there Streisinger continued his education, receiving his PHD in genetics from the University of Illinois.

Streisinger was hired as a molecular biologist at the University of Oregon In 1960. As a professor of biology as well as the director of a developmental genetics lab, George Streisinger made great contributions to the University of Oregon. Streisinger's research focused on the cloning of zebra fish. Considered the "Founding Father" of zebra fish research, Steisinger was the first person to ever successfully clone a vertebrate. Streisinger's research proved very important as he made huge contributions to the study of genetic code, mutations, and the T4 phage genome. After his death in 1984, Streisinger's research was continued at the U of O under the guidance of other biologists. Streisinger's findings have expanded to 300 labs across 30 countries, where his mutants have helped in providing answers to human and animal health.

Alongside his commitment to biology, Streisinger was also committed to politics and activism. He organized grassroots resistance to the Vietnam War as part of the Eugene Peace Information Center. Additionally Streisinger led and won a battle to keep secret war department research from entering the University of Oregon campus. Streisinger's activism was an important part of his life as he organized speeches and political campaigns during a time of war.

George Streisinger contributed greatly to the science department at the University of Oregon as well as to the study of biology worldwide. Thus, due to this large contribution, Stresinger was presented with numerous awards and honors. He was awarded the Guggenheim fellowship in 1972 and in 1975 he became the 2nd Oregonian to be selected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences. At the University of Oregon Streisinger acted as co-head of the biology department and upon his death a building was named after him on campus so that his legacy could live on.