Biography
German physiologist, histologist and cytologist Theodore Schwann is first known as the author of the cell theory - fundamental in biology. Among other valuable discoveries are Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system, metabolism, organic nature of pepsin and its role in digestion.Childhood and youth
The scientist was born on December 7, 1810 in Neuss, the city of the first empire - today's France. He is the only child of Leonard Schwann and Elizabeth Rottels, purebred Germans.
Basic education physiologist received Cologne - Gymnasium three kings in the oldest school. In those days, she had a religious bias, and Svann became a zealous Catholic. His mentor was a priest and writer Wilhelm Smat.
In 1829, Theodore Schwann entered the University of Bonn to the preparatory medical program. Here, His colleague was Johann Peter Muller, who is considered the founder of scientific medicine in Germany.
In 1831, Svann, having received a bachelor's degree in philosophy, was transferred to the University of Würzburg, and in 1833 to the University of Berlin, where Müller taught anatomy and physiology. Just a year later, Svann became a doctor of medical sciences. As a thesis, he investigated the need of a chicken embryo in oxygen.
In 1834, the scientist received a license of a doctor, but preferred to stay with Muller in theoretical medicine. Finance allowed: the scientist inherited a large amount, which in the next 5 years provided him with a comfortable existence.
Personal life
It is not known whether Theodore was Svanna's wife and children, but "the father" can be called him - "father" of cell theory and dozens of other significant discoveries. Perhaps personal life has become a kind of world for global success in the field of histology, physiology and cytology.The science
In 1834-1839, Theodore Schwann worked as Assistant Muller in an Anatomical Museum at Berlin University. The main time he devoted to physiological experiments aimed at studying the structure and functions of nerves, muscles and blood vessels.
Under powerful microscopes, Svann explored animal fabrics. The same "preparation", only plant cells, conducted Mattias Shleden. There is a correspondence between scientists, then a personal acquaintance that has turned into friendship and efficient cooperation. Their most significant contribution to biology is a cell theory.
Shleden described a colleague as a quiet, serious, gifted tools for his experiments. Svann put clear scientific issues and systematically checked them in practice. He knew how to consistently, it was reasoned to present his works.
It was this scrupulousness that helped Svanna to achieve heights. In 1844, for example, thanks to successful experiments on dogs, the scientist established the role of bile in digestion. Natural processes - cutting muscles, digestion, rotting - he considered as the result of physiological, and not "higher" reasons. Thanks to the initiousness of the mind, Svann realized what metabolism was and how it helps the body function.
Theodore not only was engaged in science, but also promoted it: he taught at universities since 1838, he left for retirement only in 1879. All this time he lectured lectures and carried out practices for anatomy, embryology, physiology. At the same time, by the way, the scientist invented a portable respirator that made it possible to maintain human life in a medium without oxygen.
Svann was a legend not only German, but world medicine. In 1878, a festival in his honor even took place in Germany. As a gift, he was presented with a book with 263 autographs and portraits of scientists from different countries, which in their writings referred to Schwann. Tom signed like this: "The creator of cell theory from modern biologists."
Death
The Biography of Theodore Schwann was cut off on January 11, 1882, at the 71st year of life. The cause of death is natural - body wear. The body of the scientist rests on the cemetery of Melaten in Cologne, in a family grave.Schwann's death came only in a physical sense. The memory of it lives so far, because all biological discoveries in one way or another are built on cell theory. Based on the positions of Schwann, young scientists continue to be undertaking.
Discoveries
The subject of the formorer Schwann was not only cells. From the student years he studied the influence of oxygen on the development of birds, was interested in the process of rotting and fermentation. In 1836, a thorough study of the digestive system allowed a scientist to open pepsin - a digestive enzyme. Based on this Svann realized that there is a metabolism, and even introduced the term.