Edwin Joseph Cohn facts for kids

Edwin Joseph Cohn (December 17, 1892 – October 1, 1953) was an important American scientist. He studied proteins, which are vital parts of all living things. He is best known for his work on blood fractionation. This process helped save many lives during World War II.

Cohn was born in New York City. He studied at Phillips Academy and the University of Chicago. He became a leading expert in how proteins work.

Helping People with Pernicious Anemia

In 1928, Edwin Cohn made a big discovery. He found a way to make a special liquid from raw liver much stronger. This liquid was used to treat a serious illness called pernicious anemia. Before his work, this illness was often fatal.

Cohn's method made the treatment much easier to use. For the next 20 years, his discovery helped many people with this condition.

Saving Lives with Blood Fractionation

Cohn became very famous for his work during World War II. He developed ways to separate different parts of blood plasma. Blood plasma is the liquid part of blood.

One important part he isolated was called serum albumin. This part of blood helps keep blood vessels from collapsing. Giving purified albumin to soldiers on the battlefield helped them recover from shock. This work saved thousands of soldiers' lives.

After the war, Cohn continued his research. He wanted to make sure that every part of donated blood could be used. This meant less waste and more help for patients. He believed that "Blood is a very special juice." This quote from a famous German writer, Goethe, was written on his office blackboard.

Understanding Proteins Better

Cohn also spent a lot of time studying the basic science of proteins. He looked at how they dissolve and behave in different liquids. His research helped other scientists understand these important molecules.

In 1943, Cohn and another scientist, John Edsall, wrote a very important book. It was called Proteins, Amino Acids and Peptides. This book shared all the known information about proteins at the time. It became a key guide for future protein scientists.

A Dedicated Leader

Edwin Cohn was known as an excellent leader. He was very driven and organized. He was also good at choosing the right people and projects to work on. Many people believe the success of the blood fractionation project was due to his strong leadership.

Cohn was very dedicated to his work. He would sometimes show how his blood fractionation machine worked in public. He even used his own blood for these demonstrations! He worked very hard, sometimes ignoring his doctors' advice. His dedication helped save many lives.