Norman Ernest Borlaug, born in March 1914 in an Iowa farm, became a towering figure in green revolution of 1960's. Borlaug, during the last three and half decade collaborated and shared his experiences on problems of wheat improvement with his fellow scientists from Mexico and other countries. He also enchourages and collaborated with scientists from India, Pakistan and other countries in adapting new varieties of wheat. He was a big motivation force fo convincing the scientists and the Government fro introduction of new wheat varieties. He is a goal oriented scientist with pragmatic approach with constant sarch for more effective methods.
After completing his college education, Borlaug studies forestry and pursued his further studies in plant pathology for masters and doctorate degree. He was also actively involved in research on industrial and agricultural bactericides, fungicides and preservatives. Later he as a geneticist and plant pathologist. He was also made responsible for directing the research on wheat in the collaborative programme of Mexican Government and Rockfeller Foundation. his responsibilities included the research in diverse fields of his intrest. In span of two decades he achieved a spectacular sucess in developing a high yeilding, short strawed and disease resistant wheat.
He also worked to use this scientific research for humanitarian purposes. He saw to it that new cerial strains are used extensively for production to feed hungry people of the world. This according to him is a "temporary success in man's war against hunger and deprivation". He considered it a breathing space in which to deal with "populaion monster" and the subsequent environmental and social ills, often resulting in conflicts between humans and natons. Noble peace prize was conferred on him in 1978 for his contribution to food security, environment and reduction of social ills and conflicts. he also received acclaimation from several iniversities and research institutions in the for of fellowship and awards of excellence.
Dr. Borlaug also became the Director of Wheat Improvement Programme which enabled him to achieve hi s another objective if traning young scientists in research and production methodology. This Center has succeeded in providing training to more than 2000 young students from several countries. At present Borlaug is involved in experimentation with triticale, a man made grain developed through cross between wheat and rye.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Ramdeo Mishra(1908-1998)
Prof. Ramdeo Mishra is revered as father of Ecology in India. After obtaining Ph.d in ecology (1937) under Prof. W. H. Pearsail, FRS from Leeds Iniversity in UK, he returned to establish ecology teaching and research at the Department of Botany of the Banaras Hindu University. Under his leadership, this Department gained international recognition for research of ecology of tropical ecosystems (forests, grasslands, ponds, lakes, etc.). His ressarches laid the foundation for understanding of tropical communities and their succession, environmental responses of plant populations, and produtivity and nutrient cycling in tropical forests and grassland ecosystems. Prof. Mishra formulated the first postgraduate course in ecology in India. Oer 50 scholars obtained Ph.D degree under his supervision and moved to other Universities and research institutes to innitiate ecology teaching/research across the country. He was honoured with the Fellowships of Indian National Science Academy and Worls Academy of Arts and Science, and the prestigious Sanjay Gandhi Award in Environment and Ecology. Due to his efforts, the government of India established the National Committee for Environmental planning and Coordination (1972) which, in later years paved the way for the establishment of ministry of environment and Forests (1984). The International Society for Tropical ecology (headquaters at BHU) founded by Prof. Mishra is 1956 has played a significan role in addressing ecological inssues in tropics
Panchanan Maheshwari(1904-1966)
Born In November 190 in Jaipur (Rajasthan), Panchanan Maheshwari got solace in books and magazines in school days and later developed interests in scientific magazines. During his college days, he was inspired bu Dr. W Dudgen, American missionary teacher, to devlop interest in botany and especiallly morphology. His teacher once expressed that his student progresses ahead of him, it will give him a great satisfaction. These words enchouraged Phanchanan to enquire what he could do for his teacher in return. Dudgeon replied that "do for your students what i have done for you." Meticulously following his teacher's advise, he did train a host of talanted students. he pursued his postgraduate university education in botany at Allahabad University.
He worked on ebryological aspects, especially the embryo sac of many plants belonging to more than 1000 families. He popularised the use of embryological characters in taxonomy. He estalished the department of Botany, University of Delhi as an important center of reseaech in embryology and tissue culture. The department was recognised by University Grand Commmision as center of advanced study in Botany. Panchanann Maheshwari was assisted by his wife in preparation of slides in addition to her household duties. Way back in 1950 he talked of contacts between embryology, physiology and genetics. He also emphasised the need of initiation of work on artificial culture of immature embryos. These days tissue culture has become a landmark in science. His work on test tube fertilisation and intra- ovarian pollination won worldwide acclaim. The book considered "magnum opus",the Introduction to the Embryology of Angiosperms was completed by him in 1950. He also founded an international research journal 'Phytomorphology' and popular magazine 'The Botanica' in 1950. Volume on recent advances in embryology of angiosperms (1963), edited by Maheshwari, became a refferal for researchers in embryology.
he dovoted his life to science. Many of his wellwishers and studnts felt pride in naming their new findings after him, such as Panchanania jaipurensis (fungus), Oldenlandia maheshwarii(Rubiaceae member).
he was honoured with fellowship of Royal society of London (FRS), Indian national Science Academy and several other insitutions of excellence. His interest in science also made a significant contribution to school education in the form of textbooks of Biology for secondary schools published by NCERT in 1964
He worked on ebryological aspects, especially the embryo sac of many plants belonging to more than 1000 families. He popularised the use of embryological characters in taxonomy. He estalished the department of Botany, University of Delhi as an important center of reseaech in embryology and tissue culture. The department was recognised by University Grand Commmision as center of advanced study in Botany. Panchanann Maheshwari was assisted by his wife in preparation of slides in addition to her household duties. Way back in 1950 he talked of contacts between embryology, physiology and genetics. He also emphasised the need of initiation of work on artificial culture of immature embryos. These days tissue culture has become a landmark in science. His work on test tube fertilisation and intra- ovarian pollination won worldwide acclaim. The book considered "magnum opus",the Introduction to the Embryology of Angiosperms was completed by him in 1950. He also founded an international research journal 'Phytomorphology' and popular magazine 'The Botanica' in 1950. Volume on recent advances in embryology of angiosperms (1963), edited by Maheshwari, became a refferal for researchers in embryology.
he dovoted his life to science. Many of his wellwishers and studnts felt pride in naming their new findings after him, such as Panchanania jaipurensis (fungus), Oldenlandia maheshwarii(Rubiaceae member).
he was honoured with fellowship of Royal society of London (FRS), Indian national Science Academy and several other insitutions of excellence. His interest in science also made a significant contribution to school education in the form of textbooks of Biology for secondary schools published by NCERT in 1964
Earl W. Sutherland, Jr.
Earl W. sutherland, Jr. was born at Burlingame, Kansas, U.S.A. in November 1915. Ever since the first hormone was discovered the function of hormones has been central theme for research for many scientists. Even after many years of discovery of insulin hormone, the mechanism of hormone action remained a mystery. Sutherland discovered a new chemical substance, cyclic Adenosine monophosphate (CAMP), and its functions as a second messenger in 1965 long after discovery of insulin.
Sutherland, while studying the effect of adrenaline (epinephrine) on the formation of glucose in liver and muscle cells, discovered cAMP as an intermediate during the function of the hormone. He called it a "second messenger" since cAMP transmits signal from epinephrine to cells.
Sutherland suggested that cAMP participates as a second messenger in many hormone mediated reactions showing its effect beyond the action of adrenaline. Contemporary scientists did not agree with his generalization; the found it difficult to visualize that a single chemical substance gives rise to all variety of effects mediated by various hormones. Sutherland man many other scientists established evidence to show the formation of cAMP in the cell membrane due to hormones. Actually, Sutherland had discovered a new biological principal, a general mechanism for action of many hormones.
Earl W. Sutherland, Jr. was awarded Noble prize in phsiology or medicine for 1971 "for his discoveries concerning the mechanisms of the action of hormones."
Sutherland, while studying the effect of adrenaline (epinephrine) on the formation of glucose in liver and muscle cells, discovered cAMP as an intermediate during the function of the hormone. He called it a "second messenger" since cAMP transmits signal from epinephrine to cells.
Sutherland suggested that cAMP participates as a second messenger in many hormone mediated reactions showing its effect beyond the action of adrenaline. Contemporary scientists did not agree with his generalization; the found it difficult to visualize that a single chemical substance gives rise to all variety of effects mediated by various hormones. Sutherland man many other scientists established evidence to show the formation of cAMP in the cell membrane due to hormones. Actually, Sutherland had discovered a new biological principal, a general mechanism for action of many hormones.
Earl W. Sutherland, Jr. was awarded Noble prize in phsiology or medicine for 1971 "for his discoveries concerning the mechanisms of the action of hormones."
Melvin Calvin(1911-)
Calvin born in Minnesota in april, 1911 received his B.S degree from Michigan College of Mining and Technology (now Michigan Technological University) and phd in chemistry from university of Minnesota. He served as professor of Chemistry fat the university of California, Berkeley.
He has surved on many boards for the U.S. Government. Active in many professional societies, Calvin served the royal society of london, which awarded him Dovy medal in 19 64 for his poineering work in chemistry and biology, particularly the potosynthesis studies.
His clear understanding of nature of organic molecules proved valuable in subssequent work in biological chemistry. investigations of complex organic chemical systems using radio isotope C14 as a tracer by his team were published as techniques in Isotopic Carbon (1949).
He along with J.A. Bassham studied reactions in green plants forming sugar and other substances from raw materials like carbon dioxide, water and minerals by labelling the carbon dioxide with C14. These were discribed in The path of Carbon in Photosynthesis (1957) and The Photosynthesis of Carbon Compuonds (1962). calvin proposed that plants change light energy to chemical energy by transfering an electron in organised array of pigment molecules and other substances. this was substantiated by research not only in his laoratory but also elsewhere later on. The mapping of pathwat of carbon assimilation in photosynthesis earned him Noble prise in 1961.
The principles of photosynthesis a established by Calvin are at present, being used in studied on renewable resource for energy and materials and basic studies in solar energy reserch. in addition he also engaged in studies of chemica; carninogenesis studying the moleclular mechanidms of transformation of normal cells to malignant cells and the synergism between chnemical and viral carcinogenesis. Thies study has indicated that chemicals act by triggering th e integration of onco genic information alreay present in te cell.
He has surved on many boards for the U.S. Government. Active in many professional societies, Calvin served the royal society of london, which awarded him Dovy medal in 19 64 for his poineering work in chemistry and biology, particularly the potosynthesis studies.
His clear understanding of nature of organic molecules proved valuable in subssequent work in biological chemistry. investigations of complex organic chemical systems using radio isotope C14 as a tracer by his team were published as techniques in Isotopic Carbon (1949).
He along with J.A. Bassham studied reactions in green plants forming sugar and other substances from raw materials like carbon dioxide, water and minerals by labelling the carbon dioxide with C14. These were discribed in The path of Carbon in Photosynthesis (1957) and The Photosynthesis of Carbon Compuonds (1962). calvin proposed that plants change light energy to chemical energy by transfering an electron in organised array of pigment molecules and other substances. this was substantiated by research not only in his laoratory but also elsewhere later on. The mapping of pathwat of carbon assimilation in photosynthesis earned him Noble prise in 1961.
The principles of photosynthesis a established by Calvin are at present, being used in studied on renewable resource for energy and materials and basic studies in solar energy reserch. in addition he also engaged in studies of chemica; carninogenesis studying the moleclular mechanidms of transformation of normal cells to malignant cells and the synergism between chnemical and viral carcinogenesis. Thies study has indicated that chemicals act by triggering th e integration of onco genic information alreay present in te cell.
Thomas Hunt Morgan(1866-1945)
American geneticist Thomas hunt Morgan studies at Johns Hopkins University. Morgan's interest turned from embryology to the mechanism involved in heredity. Morgan found that the rapidly multiplying Drosophila, the fruit fly, for studying how specific traits are transmitted through generations. Charting the family trees of fruit flies with such mutations as stunted wings, asymmetric bodies, and mismatched eye colouring, following rediscovery of Austrian scientist Gregor Mendel's work. Morgan elaborated the details of inheritance. he realised that there were more genes than chromosomes in Drosophila. he also discovered sex chormoses and inented the techniques of genetic mapping. Thanx largely to Morgan's book, The Theory of the Gene (1926), genetics was accepted as a legitimate branch of biology. he was awarded noble Prise for Physiology and medicine in 1933
Carolus Linnaeus(1707-1778)
Carolus Linnaeus (Karl Von Linne) was born in Sweden. As a child he developed an interest in plants. On persuasion he joined the medical school, though his parents wanted him to be a minister. Linne continued with the collection, study and discriotion of plants. After completing medical degree in 1739, he went to Holland and became the personal physician of a wealthy government official. There he also studies and described plants of his employer's garden. At the age of 22 he published a paper on sexuality of plants. leter he published 14 treatise and also brought out the famout Systema Naturae from which all fundamental taxonimic researches emanated. His system of classification was a simple scheme ofr arranging plants for identifying them again. Karl von Linne wih his lectures and publications in latin became Carolous Linnaeus.
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