Otto Folin

1905 Otto Folin in biochemistry lab at McLean Hospital byAHFolsom Harvard

Otto Knut Olof Folin (April 4, 1867 – October 25, 1934) was a Swedish-American chemist who made significant contributions to the field of biochemistry. He is best known for his work on blood and urine analysis, and for developing the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, which is widely used for the quantification of phenolic and polyphenolic compounds.

Early Life and Education

Otto Folin was born in Åseda, Sweden. He emigrated to the United States in 1892. Folin received his undergraduate education at the University of Minnesota, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1892. He then pursued graduate studies at the University of Chicago, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1896 under the supervision of Julius Stieglitz.

Career

After completing his Ph.D., Folin worked at the McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, where he conducted research on metabolism and psychiatric disorders. In 1907, he joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School as a professor of biological chemistry, a position he held until his death in 1934.

Contributions to Biochemistry

Folin's research focused on the chemical analysis of biological fluids. He developed several important methods for the analysis of blood and urine, including the Folin-Wu method for blood sugar determination and the Folin-Denis method for the measurement of uric acid.

One of his most notable achievements was the development of the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, which is used to measure the total phenolic content in various substances. This reagent is still widely used in biochemical and food science research.

Personal Life

Folin was married to Wilhelmina Bergman, and they had two children. He was known for his dedication to his work and his contributions to the field of biochemistry.

Legacy

Otto Folin's work laid the foundation for modern clinical chemistry and has had a lasting impact on the field of biochemistry. His methods and reagents continue to be used in laboratories around the world.

See Also

• Biochemistry
• Clinical chemistry
• Folin-Ciocalteu reagent
• Harvard Medical School
• University of Minnesota
• University of Chicago