THE 22 MOST FAMOUS AND IMPORTANT BIOLOGISTS IN HISTORY - ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY - 2024

We leave you a compilation of the most famous and important biologists of all time, along with their most emblematic contributions to the world of science.

The work of a biologist involves the study of living organisms and their relationship with nature. They seek to understand the mechanisms of living beings through the study of their origin, habits and genetic structure.

The field of biology has produced important discoveries over the centuries: from vaccines to theories about the origin of life on our planet. Wonderful discoveries that have improved not only our knowledge of nature but the quality of our lives.

The history of biology and its protagonists originates in ancient Greece and continues to our time. Curiosity framed by scientific rigor has been a key element in the successful work of scientists from very diverse eras and places.

You may also be interested in The 50 Most Famous Scientists in History.

Top 22 best known biologists of all time

Hippocrates

(384-322 BC) In ancient Greece, this scientist was the first to categorize animal life based on its characteristics. He proposed two groups, "animals with blood" and "animals without blood" as part of what he called the Natural Scale. Many of his theories remained valid until the 19th century.

Gregor Mendel

(1822-1884) A German-born scientist, Mendel worked with plants, peas and bees to test his theories on genetics. He is considered the founder of genetic science and the discoverer of different laws on genetic patterns, today known as Mendelian inheritance.

Louis Pasteur

(1822-1895) The pasteurization process used in milk and some other beverages owes its name to this French-born biologist. He conducted experiments that helped test the theory of disease, which proposed that diseases are caused by microorganisms. He was the founder of the field of microbiology and creator of vaccines against anthrax and rabies.

Alexander Fleming

(1881-1955) Leading Scottish biologist and pharmacologist who contributed to the development of antibiotic drugs through his discovery of penicillin, from the Penicillium Notatum mold. Fleming's work brought new hope to humanity for tackling various diseases and treating bacterial infections. He received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1945.

Charles Darwin

(1809-1882) Known for his Theory of the Evolution of Species, this English biologist concluded that all living species come from common ancestors that evolved through millions of years. He called this process of evolution natural selection. He published his theories in a book called On the Origin of Species.

Antoine Lavoisier

(1743-1794) Best known in the field of biology for his work on metabolism, this French scientist experimented with attaching a calorimeter to a guinea pig to measure its heat production. He did other experiments on combustion.

Robert hooke

(1635-1703) Born in England, Hooke coined the term cell. He studied microscopic fossils, which allowed him to advance the theory of biological evolution. He was a successful author, publishing his book Micrographia in 1665, which included illustrations of microscopic images, such as the eye of a fly.

Andreas Vesalius

(1514-1564) Known as the modern father of human anatomy, Vesalius discarded several ancient theories about the human body. His analysis of the human skull was the basis of biological anthropology, which studies the evolution of the human species through time.

Anton van Leeuwenhoek

(1632-1723) Dutch biologist, considered the father of microbiology, was the first scientist to speak of single-celled organisms. Among the organisms he observed are blood cells. He built himself the microscopes that he used in his studies.

Joseph priestley

(1733-1804) This English biologist is considered to have been one of the discoverers of oxygen. He is also credited with the invention of carbonated water, through the dissolution of heavy gas in water. This discovery made him the recipient of the Royal Society medal in 1733. He was also the first biologist to document photosynthesis.

Edward jenner

(1749-1823) Born in England, Jenner developed the first experimental vaccine to prevent smallpox. He was the one who proposed the term vaccine and is therefore known as the father of immunology.

Alexander Von Humboldt

(1769-1859) Founder of the field of biogeography, the study of ecosystems and species through geographical and temporal spaces. In his honor, the belief that the most modern and accurate resources should be used when collecting data during experimentation was called Humboldtian science.

Robert Brown

(1773-1858) Scottish botanist who analyzed nearly 2,000 species of plants. He discovered Brownian motion, which occurred when he placed pollen grains in a bowl of water and noticed that they were moving without the need for some kind of observable stimulus.

Claude bernard

(1813-1878) This French biologist proposed conducting blind experiments for studies and helped the scientists of his time to obtain more objective results. Bernard also conducted studies on the human pancreas, liver, and nervous system.

Joseph Lister

(1827-1912) As a professor of surgery, the Englishman introduced the idea of ​​sterilizing instruments using carbolic acid to prevent infection. He became known as the father of antisepsis thanks to his discoveries. Improved techniques for performing mastectomies and knee surgeries.

Thomas hunt morgan

(1866-1945) Geneticist of American origin, he unraveled the connection between miosis and genetic segregation. His discoveries about genes and their location on chromosomes helped turn biology into an experimental science. He was the winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1933.

Ernst mayr

(1904-2005) Known as the Darwin of the 20th century, this German scientist attempted to solve the species problem posed by Darwin through the publication of Systematics and the Origin of Species. Mayr sought to elaborate on his ideas about evolutionary biology. His work and his discoveries were a great influence for the formulation of later theories, such as the theory of punctuated equilibrium.

Erwin chargaff

(1905-2002): This Austrian biologist is best known for his discovery of two rules related to the structure of DNA and its formation in the form of a double helix. He found that some substances within the structure of DNA are comparable to other different substances. He also discovered that the composition of DNA varies between species.

Rachel Carson

(1907-1964) American-born marine biologist who worked to warn the public about the dangers of pesticide use. Her work helped create the Environmental Protection Agency. She published several volumes on marine life early in her career. She later dedicated herself to helping change government policies on the use of some pesticides.

George Beadle

(1909-1975) American geneticist who showed, by means of the radiation of spores of the mold Neurospora crassa and the follow-up of the resulting mutations, that the mutations induced in the genes corresponded to alterations in specific enzymes. This discovery aided in the acceptance of the one gene / enzyme hypothesis. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1958.

Frances Oldham Kelsey

(1914-) American scientist, member of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration or Food and Drug Administration in the United States). His work prevented the commercialization of Thalidomide in the United States, saving the lives of thousands of children. He led the movement that resulted in stricter regulation of drug distribution.