Microbiology: Scientists history

Anton van Leeuwenhoek

Improved the microscope, first to see/describe microorganisms

Edward Jenner

Created the smallpox vaccine, demonstrated how immunization worked (started the idea of vaccines)

Francesco Red

Experimented and debunked spontaneous generation, supported biogenesis

Robert Koch

Created Koch's postulates showing that specific germs cause specific diseases

Lazzaro Spallanzani

Conducted experiments demonstrating that boiling liquids sterilizes, proving heat can kill microorganisms/germs

John Hunter

Pioneered experimental surgery and conducted studies on inflammation and wound healing.

Joseph Lister

Introduced antiseptic techniques in surgery, reducing the risk of infections and improving patient outcomes.

Girolamo Fracastoro

Proposed the theory of contagion, saying diseases are transmitted by invisible agents, helping us understand infectious diseases.

Theodor Schwann

Formulated the cell theory, 'that cells are the basic units of life and that all living organisms are composed of cells.'

Matthias Schleiden

Along with Schwann, formulated the cell theory, emphasizing the role of cells in the structure and function of plants.

Robert Hooke

Coined the term "cell" and made important observations of plant cells, an early step in cell biology

Rudolf Virchow

Proposed "cellular pathology" and showed how cells play a role in diseases, helping modern pathology develop.

John Needham

Did experiments supporting spontaneous generation, but later others debunked his findings

Louis Pasteur

Disproved spontaneous generation with swan-neck flask experiments, developed pasteurization, helped explain fermentation and germ theory.

Ignaz Semmelweis

Pioneered handwashing in medicine, greatly reducing deaths from childbirth fever.

John Snow

Investigated the London cholera outbreak by mapping cases and finding contaminated water, helping us understand how disease spreads