Ross Granville Harrison

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Ross Granville Harrison - NLM-101417959

Ross Granville Harrison (January 13, 1870 – September 30, 1959) was an American biologist and a pioneer in the field of tissue culture. He is best known for his work in embryology and for developing the first successful method of growing animal cells in an artificial medium.

Early Life and Education

Harrison was born in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended the Johns Hopkins University, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1894. His doctoral research focused on the development of the nervous system in amphibians.

Career and Research

After completing his Ph.D., Harrison worked at several institutions, including the University of Bonn and the University of Chicago. In 1907, he joined the faculty at Yale University, where he spent the majority of his career.

Harrison's most significant contribution to science was his development of the tissue culture technique. In 1907, he successfully grew nerve fibers from frog embryos in a medium of lymph. This groundbreaking work laid the foundation for modern cell biology and biotechnology.

Contributions to Embryology

Harrison's research in embryology provided critical insights into the development of the nervous system. He demonstrated that nerve fibers grow by the extension of nerve cells, a discovery that was crucial for understanding the mechanisms of neural development.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Harrison received numerous awards and honors. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1913 and served as its president from 1938 to 1946. He was also a member of the American Philosophical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Legacy

Ross Granville Harrison's pioneering work in tissue culture has had a lasting impact on the fields of cell biology, embryology, and biotechnology. His methods are still used today in various research and medical applications.

See Also

• Tissue culture
• Embryology
• Cell biology
• Biotechnology