Ferdinand Cohn summary

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Ferdinand Cohn, (born Jan. 24, 1828, Breslau, Silesia, Prussia—died June 25, 1898, Breslau), German naturalist and botanist, considered one of the founders of bacteriology. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Berlin at age 19. His early research centred on the single-celled algae, and his accounts of the life histories of various algae species are of permanent value. He was among the first to attempt to arrange bacteria into genera and species on a systematic basis. Among his most striking contributions was his discovery of the formation and germination of spores in certain bacteria. During his lifetime Cohn was recognized as the foremost bacteriologist of his day.

taxonomy Summary

Taxonomy, in a broad sense the science of classification, but more strictly the classification of living and extinct organisms—i.e., biological classification. The term is derived from the Greek taxis (“arrangement”) and nomos (“law”). Taxonomy is, therefore, the methodology and principles of

algae Summary

Algae, members of a group of predominantly aquatic photosynthetic organisms of the kingdom Protista. Algae have many types of life cycles, and they range in size from microscopic Micromonas species to giant kelps that reach 60 metres (200 feet) in length. Their photosynthetic pigments are more

bacteria Summary

Bacteria, any of a group of microscopic single-celled organisms that live in enormous numbers in almost every environment on Earth, from deep-sea vents to deep below Earth’s surface to the digestive tracts of humans. Bacteria lack a membrane-bound nucleus and other internal structures and are

fungus Summary

Fungus, any of about 144,000 known species of organisms of the kingdom Fungi, which includes the yeasts, rusts, smuts, mildews, molds, and mushrooms. There are also many funguslike organisms, including slime molds and oomycetes (water molds), that do not belong to kingdom Fungi but are often called