“Look at the wee- beasties.”
or a visit to the Microorganism Hall of Fame
This presentation honors those great people who helped us learn about microorganisms.
Microorganisms were unknown prior to the 1670’s.
How did we discover microorganisms? First, we had to have a microscope.
Our first member of the Hall of Fame…
Zacharias Janssen
Invented the microscope in 1595.
It was considered a “toy” for the rich.
Zacharias Janssen
Anton van Leeuwenhoek
In 1680, Anton van Leeuwenhoek improved the microscope.
He called the small creatures he saw through the microscope “animalcules” (Little animals).
What he saw were bacteria and protozoans.
Click here for Understanding: Anton van LeeuwenhoekClick here for Understanding: Anton van Leeuwenhoek.
Anton van Leeuwenhoek
Edward Jenner
Developed the first vaccine in the 1790’s. Milk maids who had “cow pox” did not develop smallpox.
Click here for Edward Jenner: Smallpox VaccineClick here for Edward Jenner: Smallpox Vaccine.
Edward Jenner
Oliver Wendell Holmes and Ignaz Semmelweis
Prior to the 1840’s, many women died after childbirth from Child Bed Fever. Washing hands solved the the problem and saved lives. They realized Child Bed Fever was caused by dirty hands.
Click here for Louis Pasteur – Mini BiographyClick here for Louis Pasteur – Mini Biography.
Oliver Wendell Holmes and Ignaz Semmelweis
Joseph Lister
People got sick and many died after operations. First used antiseptics and disinfectants in the operating room in the 1860’s.
Joseph Lister
Louis Pasteur
Proved all organisms came from other living things.
Showed microorganisms can be killed by heat (Pasteurization). Did his work in the 1860’s – 1880’s.
Click here for 100 Greatest Discoveries: Germ TheoryClick here for 100 Greatest Discoveries: Germ Theory.
Louis Pasteur
Robert Koch
In the 1870’s, he proved that germs caused disease.
Robert Koch
Sir Alexander Fleming
Discovered the “miracle drug,” penicillin in 1928.
Click here for 100 Greatest Discoveries: Penicillin DevelopmentClick here for 100 Greatest Discoveries: Penicillin Development.
Sir Alexander Fleming
These are the members of the Cell Hall of Fame.