Jan Swammerdam

Jan Swammerdam (12 February 1637 – 17 February 1680) was a Dutch biologist and microscopist. His work on insects demonstrated that the various phases during the life of an insect—egg, larva, pupa, and adult—are different forms of the same animal. As part of his anatomical research, he carried out experiments on muscle contraction. In 1658, he was the first to observe and describe red blood cells. He was one of the first people to use the microscope in dissections, and his techniques remained useful for hundreds of years.

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

Swammerdam was born in Amsterdam, the son of a prosperous city pharmacist, Jan Jacobszoon Swammerdam. After attending Latin school, he started studying medicine in Leiden in 1661.

Career[edit | edit source]

In 1663 Swammerdam started his research on insects and published the Historia Insectorum Generalis in 1669. In this book, he described the lifecycle of insects, contradicting the prevailing belief that insects were "born of mud" by spontaneous generation.

Later life and death[edit | edit source]

Swammerdam spent the last years of his life in a small room in his mother's house, conducting experiments and writing letters. He died on 17 February 1680.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Swammerdam's work on insects was groundbreaking and laid the foundation for modern entomology. His work on muscle contraction and red blood cells was also significant and contributed to the development of modern biology.

References[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

Jan Swammerdam - website dedicated to his life and work

Jan Swammerdam Resources
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