Lynn Margulis

Description: (Author)

Lynn Margulis was an American biologist who completely altered the concept of how life arose on Earth. Born as the eldest of her siblings in Chicago, Margulis was not a class topper in Hyde Park Academy High School. She earned both her B.A. and M.A. degree from University of Chicago and then joined University of Wisconsin to study biology under Walter Plaut and Hans Ris. While pursuing research, she was offered a position as a research assistant and lecturer in Brandeis University. Throughout her career, she has scaled heights, the highest being the Distinguished Professor of Geosciences, a position she retained till her death. Margulis was married twice in her life. Although, she was a staunch evolutionist, she completely rejected the theory of modern evolutionary synthesis, which made her realize that she was more of a ‘neo-Darwinist’. Her theoretical paper on mitosing cells was rejected fifteen times before it was finally printed in and is now considered as the landmark argument in endosymbiotic theory. Margulis was a tenacious lady who defended her theory vehemently, even in the face of staunch criticism. Apart from her endosymbiotic theory, Margulis collaborated with James Lovelock, the British scientist on Gaia hypothesis. Apart from her scholarly articles, Margulis wrote a number of books interpreting scientific concepts for people in general.

Overview

Birthday March 5, 1938 (Pisces)
Alternative names L. Margulis
City Chicago, Illinois
Died on November 22, 2011
Spouse/Ex- Carl Sagan
Parents
Children Dorion Sagan, Jennifer Margulis, Jeremy Sagan, Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma

Did you know

What is Lynn Margulis known for? Lynn Margulis was a renowned American biologist best known for her theory of endosymbiosis, which proposed that eukaryotic cells evolved through the symbiotic relationships between different prokaryotic organisms.
What impact did Lynn Margulis have on the field of biology? Lynn Margulis made significant contributions to the field of biology by challenging traditional evolutionary theories and proposing the endosymbiotic theory, which revolutionized our understanding of the origin of complex cells.
How did Lynn Margulis support the endosymbiotic theory? Lynn Margulis supported the endosymbiotic theory by providing evidence from molecular biology, biochemistry, and comparative anatomy to show that organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts were once independent prokaryotic organisms engulfed by larger cells.
What is the significance of Lynn Margulis' work in evolutionary biology? Lynn Margulis' work in evolutionary biology was significant as it proposed a new framework for understanding the origin of complex life forms and challenged traditional views of evolution by emphasizing the role of symbiosis and cooperation in driving evolutionary change.
How did Lynn Margulis' ideas influence the scientific community? Lynn Margulis' ideas had a profound impact on the scientific community by sparking new research in evolutionary biology, cell biology, and microbiology, leading to a greater appreciation of the role of symbiosis in shaping the diversity of life on Earth.
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