General Microbiology Bio 120

Date Submitted: 8/16/16

Members: Angeles, Christine Debbie Shanne

Balgos, Blyth Angela
Dagondon, Vanesa Olga

Lozanes, Ruther Mae

Palmitos, Isabel

DISCOVERY PHASE OF MICROBIOLOGY

Macroscopic manifestations of microorganisms such as bacteria and algal slimes
have been recognized since the ancient times. In the pre-discovery phase, the
existence of these microorganisms were neither proven nor debunked. It wasnt
until the discovery of the microscope in the 16 th century that these microorganisms
were observed and studied thus the birth of Microbiology. The scientists who paved
way for the discovery of Microbiology are Zacharias Janssen, Robert Hooke, Anton
Leeuwenhoek and Marcello Malphigi.
A. Zacharias Janssen (1580-1638)
A Dutch spectacle maker from Middleburg, Holland.
Developed the first compound microscope (1590); also known as the
Janssen microscope.
Other historians think that it was his father, Hans Janssen, who built the
first one but it was Zacharias who produced it for sale.
Description: is handheld microscope that is used by sliding the inner tubes
with one another that shortens or increases the focal length; consisted of
three draw tubes; can magnify three to nine times the specimen actual
size.
B. Robert Hooke
He was attributed to his first book named Micrographia which was
considered as the world's first comprehensive book with illustrations of
microscopy.
He was the one who used illumination system to demonstrate several
microscopic organisms such as sponges, bryozoans, etc.
Hooke was the one who discovered cells through observing microscopic
images of thin slices of cork. He also reported seeing similar cell
structures in wood and plants.
In year 1678, Robert Hooke was one of the scientist to confirm
Leeuwenhoek's report about "animalcules" which was bacteria and
protozoan.
Hooke was also the first one to examine fossil on a microscope and
differentiate a living wood and living shell to a fossilized one.

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C. Anton Van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723)

Thonius Philips van Leeuwenhoek, also known as Anton van
Leeuwenhoek was born in Delft on October 24, 1632 and died in the same
place on August 26, 1723. He was known as the father of Microbiology
because of his contribution to the improvement of the microscope which led
him to be the first person to observe and describe microorganisms which he
referred to as animalcules. Despite his groundbreaking discoveries, it was
reported that he was, in fact, not a professor of medicine, but a tradesman
without formal education that only spoke his native Dutch language.
Life and Career
His father, Philips Antonisz van Leeuwenhoek was a basket maker
while his mother, Margaretha Bel van den Berch, came from a wealthy
brewer's family.
At the age of 16, he apprenticed to a linen-draper in Amsterdam.
Even with limited education, he was a respected citizen and held
several civil posts in their town.
Involvement with the Microscope and his observations
In Amsterdam, he saw a magnifying glass which can magnify up to a
power of three and was used by textile merchants.
He was 14 years old when he acquired his own magnifying glass.
He moved to Delft, Netherlands and was inspired by Robert Hookes
Micrographia.
Due to his interest in microscope, he improved the quality of his
microscopes by grinding its lenses.
Erroneously referred to as the inventor of the microscope.
Compound microscopes had already existed since 1595.
His microscopes were powerful magnifying glasses and
not compound microscopes.
The design of his microscope was simple. It is just a single lens fixed in
a tiny hole of the brass plate which was the body of the instrument.
The specimen was attached on a sharp point in front of the lens. The
position and focus can be adjusted using the two screws.
He observed and studied many microorganisms which can be found in
water, skin, hair, and blood using his self-designed microscope as well
as muscle fibers and spermatozoa.
He observed protozoa and called it animalcules.
He was able to made microscopes with magnification of 200x up to
500x.
He documented his observations and sent it to the Royal Society of
London which published his findings to their journals.
D. Marcello Malpighi (1628- 1694)
He is an Italian Microscopist and Physiologist. He is also regarded as
the founder of biological microscopy and histology. He was about 38 years old
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when he decided to dedicate his free time to anatomical studies. For almost
40 years he used the microscope to describe the major types of plant and
animal structures. His discoveries paved the way for future research on
human, animal and insect anatomy, botany and pathology.
Life and Career
Born on March 10, 1628 at Crevalcore near Bologna, Italy
At the age of 25, he was granted a doctorate in both medicine and
physiology
On the recommendation of Boreli, he was welcomed by Viscount
Giacomo Francavilla to teach medicine at the University of Messina
In 1684 his villa was burned, his apparatus and microscopes shattered,
and his papers, books, and manuscripts destroyed probably by a group
having opposing views.
Works and Discoveries
In 1686, he showed microscopic views of the lung and its network of
capillaries.
William Harvey discovered the circulation of the blood assumed that
there were capillaries even though he could not see them. Malpighi
accomplished the microscopic structures after Harvey's death.
He studied the blood, lymph nodes, and spleen, and of the tissues of
numerous plants and animals.
He described the embryology of a chick, graafian follicles, vesicular
structure of the lungs, the glomerular tufts of the kidneys, and the
Malpighian bodies of the spleen.
Malpighi after dissecting a dead black male, made groundbreaking
discovery of the origin of black skin. He found that the black pigment
was associated with a layer of mucus just beneath the skin.
Having the talent of sketching, he was able to virtually describe his
findings.
In his Anatome plantarum, there is a longitudinal section of a flower of
Nigella with details of the nectariferous organs.
References:
Anton van Leeuwenhoek. (n.d.). In New World Encyclopedia online. Retrieved August 12, 2016, from
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Anton_van_Leeuwenhoek
Anton van Leeuwenhoek: A History of Compound Microscope. (n.d.). Retrieved from August 12, 2016, from
http://www.history-of-the-microscope.org/anton-van-leeuwenhoek-microscope-history.php
Burgan, Michael. (2007). Robert Hooke: Natural Philosopher and Scientific Explorer. Retrieved August 12, 2016, from
www. biography.com/people/Robert-hooke-9343172
Egerton, Frank N. (2006). A History of the Ecological Sciences, Part 19: Leeuwenhoeks Microscopic Natural History.
Retrieved August 12, 2016, from http://esapubs.org/bulletin/current/history_list/history19.pdf
Hans and Zacharias Jansen: A complete microscope history. (2010). Retrieved August 12, 2016, from
http://www.history-of-the-microscope.org/hans-and-zacharias-jansen-microscope-history.php
Kent and Chapman. (2005). Robert Hooke and the English Renaissance. Retrieved August 12, 2016, from
http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Hooke.html

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Nsir pyn (Nasser Pouyan), Marcello Malpighi, the Founder of Biological Microscopy, Journal of Microbiology
Research, Vol. 4 No. 4, 2014, pp. 170-173. doi: 10.5923/j.microbiology.20140404.03.
Sherman, J. (2005). HOW DO WE KNOW THE NATURE OF THE CELL. Retrieved August 12, 2016, from
https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=CezSuh9L1K0C&pg=PA27&dq
Shmaefsky, B. (2006). Biotechnology 101. Retrieved August 12, 2016, from https://books.google.com.ph/books?
id=E4KhutqTYNAC&pg=PA171&dq=zacharias+janssen&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwijz
Wainwright, M., Lederberg, J. (n.d.). History of Microbiology. Retrieved August 12, 2016, from
https://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/ps/access/bbabon.pdf.

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