Frans Alfons Janssens
Encyclopedia
Frans Alfons Janssens. Ordained as a priest in 1886. He obtained a PhD in Natural Science with the highest honors and a scholarchip to attend the most prestigious foreign laboratories. He worked with Professor Kjeldahl at the Hansen Institute Carlsberg Brewery in Copenhagen. He was also a teacher at the St. Lawrence Brewery School in Ghent. In 1896, he became a professor at the Faculty of Sciences for the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
, as a chair in microscopy
and later in cytology
, succeeding Jean-Baptiste Carnoy in the chair. He is the discoverer of the crossing-over of genes
during meiosis
, which he called 'chiasmatypie'. His work was continued by the Nobel Prize winner Thomas Hunt Morgan
to develop the theory of genetic linkage
.
He was also the president of the Societé Belge de Biologie and canonized
at the Sint-Baafskathedraal in Ghent
.
In 1953, the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
founded the 'F.A.Janssens Genetics Laboratory', in recognition for the scientific merits of Frans Alfons Janssens. The laboratory is currently known as the 'Center for Microbial and Plant Genetics'.
Janssens was the son of politician Theodoor Janssens.
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
, as a chair in microscopy
Microscopy
Microscopy is the technical field of using microscopes to view samples and objects that cannot be seen with the unaided eye...
and later in cytology
Cytology
Cytology means "the study of cells".Cytology is that branch of life science, which deals with the study of cells in terms of structure, function and chemistry.Based on usage it can refer to:...
, succeeding Jean-Baptiste Carnoy in the chair. He is the discoverer of the crossing-over of genes
Gênes
Gênes is the name of a département of the First French Empire in present Italy, named after the city of Genoa. It was formed in 1805, when Napoleon Bonaparte occupied the Republic of Genoa. Its capital was Genoa, and it was divided in the arrondissements of Genoa, Bobbio, Novi Ligure, Tortona and...
during meiosis
Meiosis
Meiosis is a special type of cell division necessary for sexual reproduction. The cells produced by meiosis are gametes or spores. The animals' gametes are called sperm and egg cells....
, which he called 'chiasmatypie'. His work was continued by the Nobel Prize winner Thomas Hunt Morgan
Thomas Hunt Morgan
Thomas Hunt Morgan was an American evolutionary biologist, geneticist and embryologist and science author who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1933 for discoveries relating the role the chromosome plays in heredity.Morgan received his PhD from Johns Hopkins University in zoology...
to develop the theory of genetic linkage
Genetic linkage
Genetic linkage is the tendency of certain loci or alleles to be inherited together. Genetic loci that are physically close to one another on the same chromosome tend to stay together during meiosis, and are thus genetically linked.-Background:...
.
He was also the president of the Societé Belge de Biologie and canonized
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
at the Sint-Baafskathedraal in Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
.
In 1953, the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
founded the 'F.A.Janssens Genetics Laboratory', in recognition for the scientific merits of Frans Alfons Janssens. The laboratory is currently known as the 'Center for Microbial and Plant Genetics'.
Janssens was the son of politician Theodoor Janssens.