Emil Christian Hansen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emil Christian Hansen
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Emil Christian Hansen
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| Born | 8 May 1842 Ribe
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| Died | 27 August 1909 (aged 67) |
| Nationality | Danish |
| Known for | Saccharomyces carlsbergensis |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mycology |
| Institutions | Carlsberg Laboratory |
| Author abbrev. (botany) | E.C.Hansen |
Emil Christian Hansen (born May 8, 1842 – died August 27, 1909) was a Danish scientist. He was an expert in mycology, which is the study of fungi like mushrooms and yeasts. He also studied how fermentation works. Fermentation is a process where tiny living things, like yeast, change sugar into other things, often used to make food and drinks.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Emil Christian Hansen was born in a town called Ribe in Denmark. His father, Joseph Christian Hansen, was a house-painter. His mother was Ane Catherina Dyhre.
When he was a university student in Copenhagen, Hansen worked without pay. He helped a zoologist named Japetus Steenstrup. A zoologist is a scientist who studies animals. In 1876, Hansen won a gold medal for an essay he wrote about fungi. The essay was titled De danske Gjødningssvampe.
A Career in Science
In 1876, Emil Christian Hansen worked with Alfred Jørgensen. Together, they translated a famous book into Danish. The book was Charles Darwin’s "The Voyage of the Beagle". Its Danish title was Rejse om Jorden.
From 1879 until he died in 1909, Hansen led a special department. This was the physiological department at the Carlsberg Laboratory. The Carlsberg Laboratory is a famous research center in Copenhagen.
Discovering Pure Yeast
In 1879, the Carlsberg Laboratory hired Hansen. He made a very important discovery in 1883. He was the first person to get a single, pure yeast cell. He then mixed this pure yeast cell with a sugary liquid. This allowed him to grow much more yeast than was available before.
This special yeast was named Saccharomyces carlsbergensis. It was named after the Carlsberg Laboratory. Today, all the yeast used to make lager beer comes from this original yeast. This discovery was a big step forward for brewing and other industries that use yeast.
Naming New Fungi
Hansen also helped name new types of fungi. He is known for naming the fungal group Anixiopsis in 1897. This group belongs to the family Onygenaceae.
To honor his work, another group of yeasts was named after him in 1911. This group is called Hanseniaspora.
Publications and Legacy
Emil Christian Hansen wrote several scientific books. Some of his works were translated into English. These include "Practical studies in fermentation: being contributions to the life history of micro-organisms" from 1896. He also wrote "Considerations on Technical Mycology" in 1905. His work helped us understand more about tiny living things like yeast and fungi.
See also
In Spanish: Emil Christian Hansen para niños
