Hans Ernst August Buchner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hans Buchner
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Hans Ernst August Buchner
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| Born | 16 December 1850 |
| Died | 5 April 1902 (aged 51) Munich, German Empire
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| Alma mater | University of Leipzig |
| Known for | Discovering complement Work on Gamma globulin Study of anaerobic organisms |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Munich University |
Hans Ernst August Buchner (born December 16, 1850, died April 5, 1902) was a German scientist who studied tiny living things called bacteria. He was born and grew up in Munich, Germany. Hans was the older brother of Eduard Buchner, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1907.
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About Hans Buchner
Hans Buchner studied medicine in Munich and Leipzig. He earned his medical degree from the University of Leipzig in 1874. After finishing his studies, he worked as a doctor in the Bavarian Army.
In 1880, he became a teacher at the University of Munich. Later, in 1894, he became a professor and director of the institute that studied hygiene. Hygiene is about keeping things clean and healthy to prevent sickness.
Discoveries in Immunity
Hans Buchner was a very important scientist in the field of immunology. This is the study of how our bodies fight off diseases. He made a big discovery about how our blood protects us.
He was the first person to find a special substance in blood serum that could destroy bacteria. Blood serum is the clear, liquid part of our blood. He called this substance "alexin."
Later, another famous scientist named Paul Ehrlich renamed it "complement." The complement system is a key part of our body's defense against germs.
Studying Bacteria Without Oxygen
In 1888, Hans Buchner created a new way to grow certain types of bacteria. These bacteria are called anaerobic bacteria. This means they do not need oxygen to live and grow.
He used a special method called the "pyrogallic method" to help these bacteria thrive in a lab. This was a big step forward in understanding different kinds of bacteria.
Working with His Brother
Hans Buchner also helped his younger brother, Eduard Buchner, with an important project. They worked with another scientist, Martin Hahn. Together, they helped to isolate zymase.
Zymase is a special chemical, or enzyme, found in yeast cells. It helps sugar turn into alcohol and gas through a process called fermentation. Their findings were published in a book in 1903. The book was called "Die Zymasegärung" (Zymase Fermentation).
