Felix Hoppe-Seyler

Felix Hoppe-Seyler‏‎ (26 December 1825 – 10 August 1895) was a prominent German physiologist and chemist, and the principal founder of the disciplines of biochemistry and molecular biology.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Born in Freiberg, Saxony, Hoppe-Seyler was adopted by his uncle after the death of his parents. He studied medicine at the University of Leipzig and later at the University of Berlin, where he received his medical degree in 1851.

Career[edit | edit source]

Hoppe-Seyler conducted significant research in the field of physiological chemistry and is often credited with the foundation of biochemistry. He was the first to purify oxygen-carrying protein hemoglobin from red blood cells and crystallize it. He also discovered and named 'myoglobin', the primary oxygen-carrying molecule in muscle tissue.

In 1877, Hoppe-Seyler founded the Zeitschrift für Physiologische Chemie (Journal for Physiological Chemistry), which was the first journal dedicated to the field of biochemistry.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Hoppe-Seyler's work laid the foundation for the modern field of molecular biology. His research on hemoglobin led to the understanding of how oxygen is transported in the blood. His work has had a profound impact on a wide range of scientific fields, including medicine, biology, and chemistry.