Until the 19th century, the concept of "biology" did not exist, and those who studied nature were called natural scientists, naturalists. Now these scientists are called the founders of the biological sciences. Let's remember who the domestic biologists were (and we will briefly describe their discoveries), who influenced the development of biology as a science and laid the foundation for its new directions.
Vavilov N. I. (1887-1943)
Our biologists and their discoveries are known all over the world. Among the most famous are Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov, a Soviet botanist, geographer, breeder, and geneticist. Born into a merchant family, he was educated at an agricultural institute. For twenty years he led scientific expeditions studying the plant world. He traveled almost the entire globe, with the exception of Australia and Antarctica. Gathered a unique collection of seeds of various plants.
During his expeditions, the scientist identified the centers of the origin of cultivated plants. He suggested that there are some centers of their origin. He made a huge contribution to the study of plant immunity and revealed the law of homologous series, which allowedestablish patterns in the evolution of the plant world. In 1940, the botanist was arrested on trumped-up charges of embezzlement. Died in prison, posthumously rehabilitated.
Kovalevsky A. O. (1840-1901)
Among the pioneers, a worthy place is occupied by domestic biologists. And their discoveries influenced the development of world science. Among the world-famous researchers of invertebrates is Alexander Onufrievich Kovalevsky, an embryologist and biologist. He was educated at St. Petersburg University. He studied marine animals, undertook expeditions to the Red, Caspian, Mediterranean and Adriatic seas. He created the Sevastopol Marine Biological Station and for a long time was its director. He made a huge contribution to the aquarium.
Alexander Onufrievich studied embryology and physiology of invertebrates. He was a supporter of Darwinism and studied the mechanisms of evolution. Conducted research in the field of physiology, anatomy and histology of invertebrates. Became one of the founders of evolutionary embryology and histology.
Mechnikov I. I. (1845-1916)
Our biologists and their discoveries have been duly appreciated in the world. Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1908. Mechnikov was born into the family of an officer and was educated at Kharkov University. He discovered intracellular digestion, cellular immunity, proved with the help of embryology methods the common origin of vertebrates and invertebrates.
Worked on issues of evolutionary and comparativeembryology and together with Kovalevsky became the founder of this scientific direction. The works of Mechnikov were of great importance in the fight against infectious diseases, typhus, tuberculosis, and cholera. The scientist was occupied with the processes of aging. He believed that premature death was caused by poisoning with microbial poisons and promoted hygienic methods of struggle, he assigned an important role to restoring the intestinal microflora with the help of fermented milk products. The scientist created the Russian school of immunology, microbiology, pathology.
Pavlov I. P. (1849-1936)
What contribution did domestic biologists and their discoveries make to the study of higher nervous activity? The first Russian Nobel laureate in medicine was Ivan Petrovich Pavlov for his work on the physiology of digestion. The great Russian biologist and physiologist became the creator of the science of higher nervous activity. He introduced the concept of unconditioned and conditioned reflexes.
The scientist came from a family of clergymen and himself graduated from the Ryazan Theological Seminary. But in the last year I read a book by I. M. Sechenov about the reflexes of the brain and became interested in biology and medicine. He studied animal physiology at Petersburg University. Pavlov, using surgical methods, studied the physiology of digestion in detail for 10 years and received the Nobel Prize for these studies. The next area of interest was the higher nervous activity, the study of which he devoted 35 years. He introduced the basic concepts of behavioral science - conditioned and unconditioned reflexes, reinforcement.
Koltsov N. K. (1872-1940)
Continue the topic "Domestic biologists and their discoveries." Nikolai Konstantinovich Koltsov - biologist, founder of the school of experimental biology. Born in the family of an accountant. He graduated from Moscow University, where he studied comparative anatomy and embryology, and collected scientific material in European laboratories. Organized a laboratory of experimental biology at the Shanyavsky People's University.
Studied the biophysics of the cell, the factors that determine its shape. These works entered science under the name "Koltsov's principle". Koltsov is one of the founders of genetics in Russia, the organizer of the first laboratories and the Department of Experimental Biology. The scientist founded three biological stations. He became the first Russian scientist who used the physicochemical method in biological research.
Timiryazev K. A. (1843-1920)
Domestic biologists and their discoveries in the field of plant physiology have contributed to the development of the scientific foundations of agronomy. Timiryazev Kliment Arkadyevich was a naturalist, photosynthesis researcher and propagandist of Darwin's ideas. The scientist came from a noble family, graduated from St. Petersburg University.
Timiryazev studied the issues of plant nutrition, photosynthesis, drought resistance. The scientist was engaged not only in pure science, but also attached great importance to the practical application of research. He was in charge of an experimental field, where he tested various fertilizers and recorded their effect on the crop. Thanks to this research, agriculture has advanced significantly.along the path of intensification.
Michurin I. V. (1855-1935)
Russian biologists and their discoveries have had a significant impact on agriculture and horticulture. Ivan Vladimirovich Michurin is a famous biologist and breeder. His ancestors were small estate nobles, from them the scientist took over his interest in gardening. Even in early childhood, he looked after the garden, many of the trees in which were grafted by his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Michurin began breeding work in a rented run-down estate. During the period of his activity, he brought out more than 300 varieties of cultivated plants, including those adapted to the conditions of the central zone of Russia.
Tikhomirov A. A. (1850-1931)
Russian biologists and their discoveries helped to develop new directions in agriculture. Alexander Andreevich Tikhomirov is a biologist, doctor of zoology and rector of Moscow University. He received a law degree at St. Petersburg University, but became interested in biology and received a second degree from Moscow University in the department of natural sciences. The scientist discovered such a phenomenon as artificial parthenogenesis, one of the most important sections in individual development. He made a great contribution to the development of sericulture.
Sechenov I. M. (1829-1905)
The topic "Famous biologists and their discoveries" will be incomplete without mentioning Ivan Mikhailovich Sechenov. This is a famous Russian evolutionary biologist, physiologist and educator. Born into a landowner's family, he was educated at the Main Engineering School and Moscow University.
The scientist studied the brain and found a center that causes inhibition of the central nervous system, proved the influence of the brain on muscle activity. He wrote the classic work "Reflexes of the Brain", where he formulated the idea that conscious and unconscious acts are performed in the form of reflexes. Introduced the brain as a computer that controls all life processes. Substantiated the respiratory function of the blood. The scientist created the national school of physiology.
Ivanovsky D. I. (1864-1920)
The end of the 19th - the beginning of the 20th century - the time when the great Russian biologists worked. And their discoveries (a table of any size could not contain their list) contributed to the development of medicine and biology. Among them is Dmitry Iosifovich Ivanovsky, a physiologist, microbiologist and founder of virology. He was educated at St. Petersburg University. Even during his studies, he showed an interest in plant diseases.
The scientist suggested that diseases are caused by the smallest bacteria or toxins. The viruses themselves were seen using an electron microscope only after 50 years. It is Ivanovsky who is considered the founder of virology as a science. The scientist studied the process of alcoholic fermentation and the effect of chlorophyll and oxygen on it, plant anatomy, soil microbiology.
Chetverikov S. S. (1880-1959)
Russian biologists and their discoveries have made a great contribution to the development of genetics. Chetverikov Sergey Sergeevich was born a scientist in the familymanufacturer, educated at Moscow University. This is an outstanding evolutionary geneticist who organized the study of heredity in animal populations. Thanks to these studies, the scientist is considered the founder of evolutionary genetics. He initiated a new discipline - population genetics.
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