1. Observation of Microorganisms:
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O v g - fungi
O v cells
Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1676) - made use of a single biconvex lens microscope (50-300x)
O v h w protozoa
first to see bacteria
described algae, yeasts and fungi
Paul Ehrlich (1890) - improved visualization of bacteria through the use of stains
methylene blue
Hans Christian Gram (1884) - developed staining technique which divided the bacteria into two groups
Gram staining
John Tyndall ( 1877) - gave the final blow to spontaneous generation theory
- observed that dust carries germs
- provided evidence for the existence heat-resistant forms of bacteria
- h y z
3. Role of Microorganisms:
Causing diseases: Indirect evidence that microorganisms were agents of human disease
Ignaz Semmelweis (1861)- hypothesized that childbed fever was transmitted by physicians
introduced the use of antiseptics
Joseph Lister (1867)- recommended that instruments should be heat-sterilized prior to use
introduced the use of phenol as disinfectant
Robert Koch ( 1876-1877)- first direct demonstration of the role of bacteria in causing disease
showed that Bacillus anthracis cause anthrax
isolated the bacterium that causes tuberculosis - Mycobacterium tuberculosis
v h K h which is a guide for relating specific microbes to
specific diseases
Role in Nature:
Nicolas-Theodore de Saussure
- reported on the capacity of soil to oxidize hydrogen gas
Sergei Winogradsky
- isolated and described nitrifying bacteria
- discovered microorganisms capable of inorganic chemical oxidation
- developed a model system for growing anaerobic photosynthetic and microaerophilic
bacteria
- described anaerobic nitrogen fixation
Martinus Beijerinck
- developed the enrichment culture
- isolated the first pure cultures of many soil bacteria
- reported on symbiotic and non-symbiotic N2 fixation