Nobel Prize Winners in Science

Questions and Answers

Who is considered the 'Father of Optics' and when did he live?

Ibn al-Haythan (Alhazen) and he lived around 1000 AD.

What is the principle that states the strength of a drug must be proportionate to the severity of the disease?

The principle that states the strength of a drug must be proportionate to the severity of the disease is one of the fundamental principles of pharmacology.

In what year and where were the first eyeglasses made?

The first eyeglasses were made in Germany around 1286.

Who invented the compound microscope with two lenses in a cylinder?

Zaccharia Janssen and his son, Han, invented the compound microscope with two lenses in a cylinder in 1590. Signup and view all the answers

What contributions did Antonj Van Leeuwenhoek make to the field of microscopy?

Antonj Van Leeuwenhoek made significant contributions to the field of microscopy, including the discovery of bacteria, yeast, sperm, striated muscle, crystalline lens, and RBCs, and achieved 270X magnification with his small lenses. Signup and view all the answers

Who defined the circulatory system?

William Harvey defined the circulatory system. Signup and view all the answers

Who invented the IV needle?

Sir Christopher Wren invented the IV needle. Signup and view all the answers

What was the occupation of Antonj Van Leeuwenhoek before he became a scientist?

Antonj Van Leeuwenhoek worked in a dry goods store, where he counted threads in woven cloth. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of Ibn al-Haythan's contributions to optics?

Ibn al-Haythan's contributions to optics were significant because he discovered the principle of refraction and laid the foundation for later advances in optics and microscopy. Signup and view all the answers

What were the main areas of focus for Galileo's work on the microscope?

Galileo added a focusing device to the microscope, which improved its functionality and allowed for more precise observations. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Polio Story

Jonas Salk, MD developed the first successful inactivated polio vaccine in 6 years.
The vaccine's development involved key basic lab discoveries, optimization and safety testing in animals and human volunteers, and the largest clinical trial in history with 1.8 million children.
Albert Bruce Sabin, MD developed the oral vaccine, which was tested on ~100 million people in the USSR, Eastern Europe, Singapore, Mexico, and the Netherlands between 1955-1961.

Women in Clinical Research

Florence Nightingale was a famous nurse, accomplished mathematician, and pioneer in promoting sanitary conditions in hospitals.
Marie Curie was a pioneering physicist who discovered radium, realized radioactivity is an atomic property, and pioneered a mobile x-ray unit for the French army in WWI.
Rosalyn Sussman Yalow, PhD developed radioimmunoassay (RIA) and won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1977.
Janet Davison Rowley, MD identified chromosomal translocations as the cause of leukemia and other cancers, and was awarded the National Medal of Science, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Lasker Award in Clinical Medical Research.

Blind Studies and Placebo Effect

Benjamin Franklin conducted a single-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 1784 to judge the legitimacy of animal magnetism as a medical cure.
Torald Sollmann suggested a placebo control and blinded observer as a solution to investigator bias in 1930.
Blindfold tests were widely used by advertisers and consumer groups in the 1930s and 1940s.

Statistics – Randomization

Sir Ronald Aylmer Fisher introduced the application of statistics to experimental design and the concept of randomization and analysis of variance.
The Medical Research Council trial led by Sir Austin Bradford Hill in 1948 was the first clinical trial with a properly randomized control group.

Medical Research Ethics

Gerhard Armauer Hansen identified the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae as the causative agent of leprosy in 1874, but was removed from his research position for inoculating nurses and patients without consent.
William Osler emphasized the importance of informed consent in 1898, stating that deliberate injection of a poison without a person's sanction is criminal.

History of the Microscope

The Romans recognized the magnification properties of glass in the 1st century AD.
Ibn al-Haythan (Alhazen) is considered the Father of Optics and wrote about the principles of optics in the 11th century.
Zaccharia Janssen and son, Han invented the compound microscope with 2 lenses in a cylinder in 1590.
Galileo added a focusing device to the microscope in 1609.
Antonj Van Leeuwenhoek made small lenses with greater curvature, achieving 270X magnification and described bacteria, yeast, sperm, striated muscle, crystalline lens, and RBCs.