Jorge Eduardo Allende Rivera, (born 11 November 1934) is a Chilean biochemist and biophysicist known for his contributions to the understanding of proteic biosynthesis and how transfer RNA is generated,[1] and the regulation of maturation of amphibian eggs.

[3] Because of his father's job as a diplomat, he spent his childhood years between Costa Rica, Chile and the United States.

He did post doctoral work with Prof. Fritz Lipmann at Rockefeller University and with Marshall Warren Nirenberg at NIH.

He raised a family of four children: Miguel Luis, Juan Ignacio, Jorge Eduardo and Maria Amparo and has 13 grandchildren.

The letter was the first appearance of a public statement by a group of academics who criticized the handling of the University of Chile by the military government.