Alfonso L. Herrera
Encyclopedia
Alfonso Luis Herrera was a Mexican biologist, author, educator and founder of several institutions in Mexico City
. He conducted research into the origin of life in an attempt to develop a new, experimental science which he called Plasmogeny.
at the National School of Medicine, graduating in 1889 by which time he had already published several papers in Zoology and Ornithology. He became a teacher at the National Preparatory School
(Escuela Nacional Preparatoria), the Military School
and the "Normal School
for Teachers" (Escuela Normal para Maestros) in Mexico. He also helped to found the Botanical Garden of Chapultepec Park (1922), Mexico City Zoo
(1923 - now called Chapultepec Zoo
), and the Biological Institute of the University of Mexico.
Herrera died in Mexico City in 1943.
, the living material of which all animals and plants are made. He reasoned that since life was the result of purely physico-chemical phenomena, it should be possible to create a structure with similar properties to natural protoplasm
out of relatively simple organic and inorganic compounds in the laboratory. To this end he conducted experiments to create artificial cells ("protocells") using substances such as Olive Oil
, Sodium Hydroxide, Gasoline
, Thiocyanate
etc.
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. He conducted research into the origin of life in an attempt to develop a new, experimental science which he called Plasmogeny.
Biography
Herrera was born in Mexico City, the son of a well-known naturalist. He studied PharmacyPharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
at the National School of Medicine, graduating in 1889 by which time he had already published several papers in Zoology and Ornithology. He became a teacher at the National Preparatory School
Escuela Nacional Preparatoria
The Escuela Nacional Preparatoria , the oldest senior high school system in Mexico, belonging to the National Autonomous University of Mexico , opened its doors on February 1, 1868. It was founded by Gabino Barreda, M.D., following orders of then President of Mexico Benito Juárez...
(Escuela Nacional Preparatoria), the Military School
Heroic Military Academy (Mexico)
The Heroic Military College is a military educational institution founded in Mexico in 1823 in the former Palace of the Inquisition, under the name Cadet Academy taken in 1823 the name of Colegio Militar, settling in Perote, Veracruz, to return to Mexico City and occupied the Betlemitas monastery...
and the "Normal School
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
for Teachers" (Escuela Normal para Maestros) in Mexico. He also helped to found the Botanical Garden of Chapultepec Park (1922), Mexico City Zoo
Chapultepec Zoo
-References:* - * on the Zoo at "Giant Panda Planet.com"* of the Zoo at "Mexico Desconocido Online"* at "The Good Zoo Guide Online"...
(1923 - now called Chapultepec Zoo
Chapultepec Zoo
-References:* - * on the Zoo at "Giant Panda Planet.com"* of the Zoo at "Mexico Desconocido Online"* at "The Good Zoo Guide Online"...
), and the Biological Institute of the University of Mexico.
Herrera died in Mexico City in 1943.
Ideas
He developed an experimental science called Plasmogeny, concerned with the origin of protoplasmProtoplasm
Protoplasm is the living contents of a cell that is surrounded by a plasma membrane. It is a general term of the Cytoplasm . Protoplasm is composed of a mixture of small molecules such as ions, amino acids, monosaccharides and water, and macromolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and...
, the living material of which all animals and plants are made. He reasoned that since life was the result of purely physico-chemical phenomena, it should be possible to create a structure with similar properties to natural protoplasm
Protoplasm
Protoplasm is the living contents of a cell that is surrounded by a plasma membrane. It is a general term of the Cytoplasm . Protoplasm is composed of a mixture of small molecules such as ions, amino acids, monosaccharides and water, and macromolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and...
out of relatively simple organic and inorganic compounds in the laboratory. To this end he conducted experiments to create artificial cells ("protocells") using substances such as Olive Oil
Olive oil
Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
, Sodium Hydroxide, Gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
, Thiocyanate
Thiocyanate
Thiocyanate is the anion [SCN]−. It is the conjugate base of thiocyanic acid. Common derivatives include the colourless salts potassium thiocyanate and sodium thiocyanate. Organic compounds containing the functional group SCN are also called thiocyanates...
etc.
Books
He published his ideas in books such as Recueil des Lois de la Biologie Generale ("Collection of the General Laws of Biology") in 1897 and Nociones de Biologia in 1904 (reprinted in 1924 as Biologica y Plasmogenia - "Biology and Plasmogeny"). His experiments were published in two scientific journals which he founded - Gaceta de Plasmogenia (in Spanish) and Bulletin du Laboratoire de Plasmogenie (in French). He also wrote a number of other scientific texts.Further reading
- Herrera, Alfonso L. Receuil des Lois de la Biologie Generale (Collection of the General Laws of Biology") 1897.
- Herrera, Alfonso L. Biologia y Plasmogia" (Biology and Plasmogeny) 1924.
- Negron-Mendoza, A. Alfonso L Herrera: A Mexican Pioneer in the study of Chemical Evolution (Journal of Biological Physics 20: 11-15, 1994).
- Ponnamperuma, C. (ed.) Chemical Evolution: Structure and Model of the First Cell.
External links
- Alfonso Luis Herrera ("Red Escolar")
- Alfonso Luis Herrera (Radio Centro).