Edouard-Gérard Balbiani
Encyclopedia
Edouard-Gérard Balbiani was a French embryologist
who was born in Port-au-Prince
, Haiti. He was educated in Frankfurt
and Paris
. In Paris he studied natural sciences under famed zoologist Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville
(1777-1850). In 1874 he became professor of embryogeny
at the Collège de France
, where he remained until his death in 1899.
Balbiani is known for his work in microbiology
as well as his studies in embryology. He is credited with the discovery of sexual organ development in Chironomus
which eventually led to the general theory regarding the autonomy of the germ cell
. Also, he conducted comprehensive biological research on the sexual habits of Phylloxera vastatrix, and with anatomist Louis-Antoine Ranvier
(1835-1922), he founded the Archives d'anatomie microscopique.
In 1884, his daughter Laure Balbiani married psychologist
Alfred Binet
.
Embryology
Embryology is a science which is about the development of an embryo from the fertilization of the ovum to the fetus stage...
who was born in Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
, Haiti. He was educated in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In Paris he studied natural sciences under famed zoologist Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville
Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville
Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville was a French zoologist and anatomist.Blainville was born at Arques, near Dieppe. In about 1796 he went to Paris to study painting, but he ultimately devoted himself to natural history, and attracted the attention of Georges Cuvier, for whom he occasionally...
(1777-1850). In 1874 he became professor of embryogeny
Embryology
Embryology is a science which is about the development of an embryo from the fertilization of the ovum to the fetus stage...
at the Collège de France
Collège de France
The Collège de France is a higher education and research establishment located in Paris, France, in the 5th arrondissement, or Latin Quarter, across the street from the historical campus of La Sorbonne at the intersection of Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue des Écoles...
, where he remained until his death in 1899.
Balbiani is known for his work in microbiology
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
as well as his studies in embryology. He is credited with the discovery of sexual organ development in Chironomus
Chironomidae
Chironomidae are a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are closely related to the Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae...
which eventually led to the general theory regarding the autonomy of the germ cell
Germ cell
A germ cell is any biological cell that gives rise to the gametes of an organism that reproduces sexually. In many animals, the germ cells originate near the gut of an embryo and migrate to the developing gonads. There, they undergo cell division of two types, mitosis and meiosis, followed by...
. Also, he conducted comprehensive biological research on the sexual habits of Phylloxera vastatrix, and with anatomist Louis-Antoine Ranvier
Louis-Antoine Ranvier
Louis-Antoine Ranvier was a French physician, pathologist, anatomist and histologist, who discovered nodes of Ranvier, regularly spaced constrictions of the myelin sheath, occurying at varying intervals along the length of a nerve fiber.Ranvier was born and studied medicine at Lyon, graduating in...
(1835-1922), he founded the Archives d'anatomie microscopique.
In 1884, his daughter Laure Balbiani married psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
Alfred Binet
Alfred Binet
Alfred Binet was a French psychologist who was the inventor of the first usable intelligence test, known at that time as the Binet test and today referred to as the IQ test. His principal goal was to identify students who needed special help in coping with the school curriculum...
.
Associated eponyms
- Balbiani's vesicles: cytoplasmCytoplasmThe cytoplasm is a small gel-like substance residing between the cell membrane holding all the cell's internal sub-structures , except for the nucleus. All the contents of the cells of prokaryote organisms are contained within the cytoplasm...
atic structures that form in the yolks of young ovuleOvuleOvule means "small egg". In seed plants, the ovule is the structure that gives rise to and contains the female reproductive cells. It consists of three parts: The integument forming its outer layer, the nucellus , and the megaspore-derived female gametophyte in its center...
s. - Balbiani ring: a large chromosome puff.
Selected publications
- Sur la structure denoyau des cellules salivaires chez les larvesde Chironomus. Balbiani, E.G. Zool. Anz. 4: 637-641,662-666
- Le phylloxera du chene et le phylloxera de la rigne (1884)