Who Was Martinus Beijerinck and What Did He Discover About Viruses?

Learn about Martinus Beijerinck's groundbreaking discovery of the first virus in 1898 and its impact on virology.

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Martinus Beijerinck first saw a virus in 1898. He discovered the tobacco mosaic virus and described an infectious agent smaller than a bacterium. This marked the foundational discovery in the field of virology.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What did Martinus Beijerinck contribute to science? Martinus Beijerinck is credited with discovering the first virus, the tobacco mosaic virus, in 1898, laying the foundation for virology.
  2. What is the significance of the tobacco mosaic virus? The tobacco mosaic virus is significant as it was the first virus to be identified, leading to the study of viruses as infectious agents distinct from bacteria.
  3. How did Beijerinck's discovery change the understanding of infections? Beijerinck's discovery introduced the concept of infectious agents smaller than bacteria, revolutionizing the study of diseases and pathogen classification.
  4. What is virology? Virology is the branch of science that deals with the study of viruses, their structure, classification, and effects on living organisms.

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