Biotechnology #20 Top Biological Discoveries that Revolutionized Biological Sciences

In the long history of biology, there have been so many amazing discoveries! Advancements in the origins of life, the mechanisms of life, cures, new (and some rediscovered) maladies, and so many other interesting things in between are what consistently makes biology one of my favorite subjects.

And while nearly all scientific discoveries help us understand a little more about this amazing world in which we live, some discoveries help us to Discover More.

Aristotle (384–322 BC): classification of living things

The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle isn't often considered when it comes to great biological discoveries, but his work on the classification of living things was revolutionary. Referred to as the 'Ladder of Life', Aristotle's classification system was used up until the 19th century. He was the first person to recognize the relationships between species and organize accordingly.

Galen (129–161 AD): early medical experimentation

The work of Greek physician Galen revolutionized the way medical research is conducted. Galen had a major influence on the development of many fields of medicine including anatomy, pathology, physiology, and neurology. Notable discoveries include the identification of the differences between veins and arteries and recognizing that the larynx generates voice. Much of his hypotheses had scientific errors but his work in pioneering the field of medical research is undeniable.?

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723): microbiology

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek is well known for his contributions to microscopy and how he applied this to the field of biology. He revolutionized a technique for creating powerful lenses, which some speculate were able to magnify up to 500 times. Leeuwenhoek used microscopes to find out more about the living world – his discoveries include bacteria, the vacuole of the cell, and the banded pattern of muscle fibers.

Charles Darwin (1809–1882): theory of evolution

Probably the most famous naturalist of all time, Charles Darwin's contribution to biology and society is immense. He established that all species of life descended over time from common ancestors, with species continuing to exist through the process of natural selection. His theory of evolution was published in On the Origin of Species in 1859 and it caused quite the stir – he was disputing the long-held belief that all species had been created by God at the beginning of the world. Evolution by natural selection combined with Mendelian genetics is now accepted as the modern evolutionary synthesis and forms the foundations of much biological scientific endeavor.

Gregor Mendel (1822–1884): modern genetics

Gregor Mendel's extraordinary contribution didn't get the recognition it deserved until long after the friar's death. He used peas to discover and demonstrate the laws of genetic inheritance, coining the terms ‘dominant’ and ‘recessive’ genes in the process. The laws were rediscovered at the turn of the 20th century and provided the mechanism for Darwin's theory of natural selection to occur. The two theories combine to form our current understanding of the evolutionary process.

Watson (1928–) and Crick (1916–2004): DNA structure

James Watson and Francis Crick were shot to fame in 1962 for their discovery of the structure of DNA, winning the medical Nobel Prize in the process. Their model of DNA (double helix) explains how DNA replicates, and hereditary info is coded and passed on. The discovery of structure has led to a much more developed understanding of function – used in disease diagnosis and treatment, forensics, and more.

Wilmut (1944–) and Campbell (1954–2012): cloning a mammal

In 1996 Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell cloned a mammal, famously named Dolly the Sheep. The pair cloned Dolly using a single adult sheep cell and a process of nuclear transfer. Dolly died after six years but cloning continues, although still not perfected and certainly not ready for human application (yet).

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