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THE HUMAN MICROBIOME: Background

Since the discovery of the microorganisms by Anton van Leeuwenhoek, the research of microorganisms never stopped. Thanks to curiosity of these amazing scientists, we have learned to make antibiotics to fight diseases, learned how to use probiotics, and learned how we should be interacting with the ecosystem on and around us.

Anton van Leeuwenhoek

Anton van Leeuwenhoek (father of microbiology) discovers the first microorganisms called animalcules

1674

Edward Jenner

Edward Jenner gives first vaccinations for smallpox

1798

Ignaz Semmelweis

Ignaz Semmelweis gave the idea of washing hands when delivering babies

1840

Louis Pasteur

Louis Pasteur discovers yeast fermentation and creates wine. (marks the begining of the Golden Age of Microbiology)

1857

Joseph Lister

Joseph Lister uses phenol (carbolic acid) to treat surgical wounds.The discovery that microorganisms cause infections is made.

1867

Robert Koch

Robert  Koch discovers that infectious agents cause disease (Germ Theory of Disease). He creates Koch's Postulates (pathogen identificatios) in 1884.
 

1876

Paul Ehrlich

Paul  Ehrlich discovers the first specific chemotherapeutic agent to cure syphillis called Salvarsan.

1912

Alexander Fleming

Alexander Fleming discovers the first antibiotic, Penicillin when he accidentally leaves out a culture and discovers the fungus Penicillium on it.

1929

Chain and Abraham

Chain and Abraham discover E.coli deactivates penicilin. This is the first evidence of antibiotic-resistance.

1940

James Watson and Francis Crick

James Watson and Francis Crick create a 3D model of the DNA structure

1953

Nathans, Smith, and Arber

Nathans, Smith, and Arber discover restriction enzymes. This is the start of the age of genetic engineering

1971

Woese

Woese used rRNA to discover Archaeobacteria.He suggests a new taxonomic grouping above Kingdom, The Domain, becasue they are very distinct

1978

Kary Mullis

Kary Mullis develops Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method of DNA amplification.

1988

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Timeline information: http://www.prescript-assist.com/intestinal-health/gut-microbiome/

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