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Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was a Dutch draper and scientist who is considered the father of microbiology. He invented a simple but powerful microscope that allowed him to be the first to observe bacteria and other microorganisms. Some of his most important observations included the discovery of bacteria, spermatozoa, red blood cells, and single-celled protists. His pioneering work helped establish microbiology as a field and disproved theories of spontaneous generation.

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772 views

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was a Dutch draper and scientist who is considered the father of microbiology. He invented a simple but powerful microscope that allowed him to be the first to observe bacteria and other microorganisms. Some of his most important observations included the discovery of bacteria, spermatozoa, red blood cells, and single-celled protists. His pioneering work helped establish microbiology as a field and disproved theories of spontaneous generation.

Uploaded by

snehakpaul
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Antonie van

Leeuwenhoek
By

Amsavarthini R

I.M.Sc Microbiology
Agenda
01 Introduction

02 History

03 Leeuwenhoek's microscope

04 His observations

05 Contributions

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Who was
01
Introduction
Leeuwenhoek?
❑ He is a draper and Dutch scientist( Delft, Netherlands)
❑ Born : October 24, 1632. Died : August 30, 1723
❑ First to observe bacteria and protozoa.
❑ First microscopist and microbiologist.
❑ Father of Microbiology.
❑ Known for improvement of the microscope.
❑ Constructed his own handcrafted microscopes.
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02
HISTORY
12TH CENTURY

Concave and convex lens for vision

1590

Hans and Zacharias Janssen- 1st


microscope

1670s

Atonie van Leeuwenhoek


To see the thread Grinded the Small glass sphere Created the powerful
quality and to count lenses, also was made with lenses and observed
thread in clothes making lens highest the nature
from soda magnification
lime glass

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03
Leeuwenhoek's microscope
• The microscope composed of double convex glass lens held
between two silver or bronze plates.
• Magnify around 50 to 300 times.
• Illuminated specimen is placed Infront of the lens and kept
shining light on them at a 45º angle to the specimen plate.
• It forms dark-field illumination in which the organisms
appeared as bright objects against a dark background and make
bacteria clearly visible.

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• A static specimen was mounted on a pin that
was mounted on a block in the field of view
of the lens.
• Two screws adjusted the distance between
the specimen and the lens and also the
height of the specimen in the field of view.
• For examining liquid a small glass tube was
clamped behind the lens in its field of view.

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8
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04
His observations
• Using this microscope he observed both
living and non- living things.
• He observed the plants, animal, insects,
human body parts – teeth and also the cells.
• He found motile objects in water.
• He has drawn his observation in papers.
• Microscopic rotifers and nematodes are
seen.
• He followed specimen preparation methods.
• He used stain like saffron to die muscle
tissues.
• He counted the number of organisms
present in a drop of water.

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▪ His researches on low life animals were opposition to the doctrine
that they could be produced spontaneously.

▪ In flea, he saw its structure and also the metamorphosis.

▪ Studied history of ants. Argued that the sea mussel and other
shellfish not generated from sand but from spawn.

▪ His description also included the ciliates in conjugation, flagellates


and the vorticella.

▪ Also investigated the generations of the eels.

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05
Contributions
• Bacteria : In 1676 first observed in water and named them as “animalcules”.
• Spermatozoa : first to discover the spermatozoa.
• The shape and size of the RBC determined accurately
• Observed single- celled organisms like protists
• Observed motile parasite like Giardia at trophozoite stage in diarrhea feces.

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▪ Discovered a species of Trichomonas, Enterobius vermicularis(
roundworm) and Balantidium coli from frogs.
▪ He observed the flow of blood in tiny capillaries and confirmed
the blood circulation theory.
▪ Observed the microorganisms in human mouth and teeth.
▪ Also observed yeast, algae- spirogyra (in water surface).
▪ He studied the structure of muscle, skin, teeth and hair.

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His findings
helped in •To end the spontaneous theory.
•The single – celled life
•Blood circulation theory.
•Emphasized the abundance of
these microorganisms
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THANK
YOU

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