Through the study of life, or more specifically the study of
organisms, a biologist is able to discover things about ourselves and
the environments we live in; all for the betterment of humanity. The
following are considered the 10 most famous biologists in history due
to the substantial contributions and discovers attributed to them in
the field.

Werner Arber – Born in 1929, Mr. Arber shared the Nobel Prize in
Physiology or Medicine with Hamilton Smith and Daniel Nathans for
their discovery of restriction endonucleases. This discovery is at the
core of all recombinant DNA technology. This discovery also
contributed to the ability to mass produce insulin.

Aristotle – (384 – 322 B.C.). Probably the most recognized name in the
field of biology, Aristotle, the Greek philosopher and scientist, is
responsible for the organization of knowledge that served as the
foundation for the majority of science advances during ancient times
as well as present day. He is most often referred to as The Father of
Biology.

Lois Agassiz – (180 – 1873). This native of Switzerland travelled to
the United States in 1846 with the intent to study the natural history
of North America. He ended up becoming a Harvard Professor and the
founder and director of Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology. He is
recognized as one of the first American biologist with international
standing. Though he is most notably remembered for his opposition to
the theory of natural selection, and his theories on ice age, his is
considered by many to have been the greatest influence on the course
of American zoology and geology in the 19th century.

Rachel Carson – (1907 – 1964). Rachel Carson was an American
naturalist and writer of science. Among her many magazine articles
relative to biological, she authored her book, Silent Spring (1962)
which warned readers of the long-term effects of pesticides. This book
is considered to be the start of the modern environmental movement.

Alexander Fleming – (1881 – 1955). Her discovery of penicillin was the
beginning of the modern day era of antibiotics. She also won the Nobel
Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945.

Charles Darwin – (1809 – 1882). Darwin is credited with the creation
of the science of evolutionary biology. He was an English naturalist
that is remembered for his theory of natural selection.

Frances Oldham Kelsey – (1914-). This American pharmacologist was born
in Canada. She worked for the FDA and is most noted for her refusal to
approve thalidomide for public sale. Because of her courageous stand,
thousands of infants were spared from being born without arms and
legs. In 1962 she received the President’s Award for Distinguished
Federal Civilian Service from President John F. Kennedy.

Raymond Dart – (1893 – 1988). This Australian-born anatomist, and
paleoanthropologist made his base in South Africa. It is here that he
discovered the first known species of an australopithecine ever found.
His argument that humans had originated in Africa was largely
dismissed as misguided. It wasn’t until he was in his nineties that
his claim was recognized as true in the scientific community.

Baron Georges Cuvier – (1769 – 1832). Cuvier was a French naturalist
and zoologist and was instrumental in proving extinction as fact. This
was monumental considering that at the time it was still thought that
no animal had ever gone extinct. Together with England’s William
Smith, they established the science of stratigraphy which was a
pivotal step in the progress of both paleontology and geology.

Gregor Mendel – (1822 – 1884). Mendel was an Austrian scientist and
monk who established that traits follow certain rule. This rule is now
known as Mendel’s Laws. He is sometimes referred to as the Father of
Genetics.

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