Ferdinand Julius Cohn

Ferdinand Julius Cohn

Famous German botanist and bacteriologist
Date of Birth: 24.01.1828
Country: Germany

Content:
  1. Ferdinand Julius Cohn: Pioneer of Botany and Bacteriology
  2. Academic Career
  3. Research and Contributions
  4. Bacteria and Disease

Ferdinand Julius Cohn: Pioneer of Botany and Bacteriology

Early Life and Education

Ferdinand Julius Cohn was born in 1828 in Breslau, Germany, to Jewish immigrants. He received his education at the University of Breslau, graduating in 1847.

Academic Career

From 1850, Cohn served as a private lecturer in botany, and in 1859 became a professor at the University of Breslau. He established the Institute of Plant Physiology in 1866.

Research and Contributions

Cohn's primary research focused on microscopic plants, including algae and fungi. He investigated their morphology, developmental history, and classification. Notably, Cohn was the first to classify bacteria as plants.

In collaboration with Robert Koch, he played a key role in studying anthrax. From 1870, Cohn published the journal "Beitr?ge zur Biologie der Pflanzen," where he shared his research on organisms such as Volvox.

Bacteria and Disease

Through his research from 1872 to 1875, Cohn published "Neue Untersuchungen ?ber Bacterien." In this work, he elucidated the systematic and biological characteristics of bacteria, emphasizing their role in fermentation, decay, and the development of epidemic diseases.

© BIOGRAPHS