Antony van Leeuwenhoek

Antony van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723)

qFather of Microbiology
qLived in Holland
qMade more than 250 microscopes consisting of home ground lenses mounted in brass and silver; with magnification of about 200 to 300 times
qFirst to report the  single-celled organisms with accurate descriptions and drawings (“animalcules”)
q He had written 190 letters to the Society, centered around his work in microscopy
q1674- Discovered and described the alga Spirogyra, and various ciliated and flagellated protozoa
q1675- Discovered and accurately described and differentiated erythrocytes in humans, swine, fish and birds
q1677 - First to observe spermatozoa in humans, dogs, swine, birds etc
q1679 and 1684 - Described the needle-shaped microscopic sodium urate crystals that formed in the gout patients
q1683 - Observed bacteria in feces
q1683 - Found parasitic protozoa in feces (Giardia sp. and Balantidium sp.)
q1702 - Observed the ciliate protozoa Vorticella and Stentor, and the colonial protozoon Volvox in pond water

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