The Birth of Microbiology

As we have come to understand in this series, the most devastating diseases to ever plague mankind have been the cause of pathogenic organisms. Although strategies had been developed to combat some of these diseases, it was not until the birth of microbiology that we began to truly understand the etiology of these diseases and come up with truly effective approaches to curing them. Who were the key players in this endeavor? Those would be Louis Pasteur, Robert Koch, and Paul Ehrlich. What did they do, and how did they transform science and medicine in ways that led to the increased life expectancy and qualify of life that we enjoy today? Let's take a look!

Script by Vittorio Farina

Check out "Is This Wi-Fi Organic?", my book on disarming pseudoscience!

[Arlondev]

I keep reading this as "The Birth of Mythology" and im like "Dave, im pretty sure they didnt make mythology in a petri dish."

[spacevspitch]

For whatever reason, I was really moved by this installment. As a long time sufferer of chronic depression, it was sad to hear about Paul Ehrlich. To be dedicated to a passion with such far reaching positive intentions, yet to be attacked in that way has got to be incredibly painful.

[robertplatt]

Leuwonhoek got his micro lenses by breaking hot glass rods. Voila, tiny perfect glass spheres. People thought for a long time that he had impossible glass blowing skills. Just a natural discovery. Source - Gresham lecture by William Ayliffe, if memory serves.

[bulavskyy]

All this hard work by many ingenious scientists and yet now we have to cope with an army of antivaxxers...

[palantir]

You here name Joseph Lister but before him Ignaz Semmelweis made important suggestions like washing hands and wear clean clothes before operating.

[sonofsons]

I’m majoring in microbiology. I like this video.

[paulmahoney]

It's sobering to think about how without the kinds of developments made by these people, there's a decent chance my own toenails would've killed me earlier this year.

[sapphiregemi._]

This video helped me! Not only did my teacher recommend that we watch this video. I became interested in microbiology now! This video taught me a lot, and i am glad that my teacher recommended us to watch this video. Thanks a lot, Prof!

[DoggyHateFire]

Sterilization and cleanliness are so associated with surgery that it's absurd to us how bad things were before we knew better. Maybe in 150 years people will think medicine today was just as absurd due to greater knowledge and technology.

[yecto]

These people has changed entire stigma around sick people
Truly gems of humanity

[dazzleclinton]

Professor Dave returns when no one expected

[cinderellahour]

I need more videos like this. I'm currently going to school o be a Biochemist. I find human biology so interesting but actually having to learn it is boring. I want to get into it already. Ha. But I know i can't unless I know the basics.

[Grimlin]

The thought that those people, and the teams who worked with them, saved millions of lives boggles my mind. And not just that, the amount of needless suffering that's been avoided, the terror, the pain, to this day...

[toraviabates]

What, no Semmelweis? 🎶Semmelweis, Semmelweis; Just wash your hands and don't kill her🎶

[platypusfeathers]

Call me Ehrlich because I’m years ahead on this comment section for once!

[peaceokezie_]

How could history be this interesting?😮

[sciencenerd]

Oh, awesome, I have been looking forward to seeing more from this series!

[uncleanunicorn]

surprised you didn't mention Ignatz Semmelweis, Who pioneered hand washing and inspired pasteur.

[rafaeldiagoburbano]

EXCELENTE TRABAJO. Felicitaciones a TODOS LOS DEL EQUIPO DE EDICIÓN. Gracias por compartir
Abrazos desde Dosquebradas Risaralda COLOMBIA

[esk]

Very good video Dave, much appreciated.