Johannes Reinke
Encyclopedia
Johannes Reinke was a German botanist and philosopher who was a native of Ziethen
, Lauenburg. He is remembered for his research of benthic
marine algae.
He initially studied theology
at Rostock
, but his interest later changed to botany
. In 1879 he became a professor of botany at the University of Göttingen, where he established the institute of plant physiology
. From 1885 until 1921 Reinke was a professor at the University of Kiel
. In addition, he was a co-founder of the Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft.
Reinke had a keen interest in the systematics, developmental cycles, cytology
and physiology
of brown algae
. From 1888 to 1892 he published a number of articles on marine algae from the North
and Baltic Sea
s. From the Baltic Sea, he described several new genera of algae. He published works on the algal families Tilopteridaceae (1889) and Sphacelariaceae (1890), and postulated that the encrusting algae genus called Aglaozonia was a stage in the life history of Cutleria
.
Reinke was a proponent of scientific "neo-vitalism
", and a critic of the Darwinian
theory of evolution. In 1901 he introduced the term "theoretical biology" to define biology
from a standpoint of concepts and theories, and to differentiate it from traditional "empirical biology". Reinke attempted to explain the evolutionary processes of life through a concept of morphogenesis
and genetic regulation he referred to as the "Dominanten" theory. Among his written works was a book that discussed the relationship of philosophy
and religion
to science.
He died in Preetz
.
Ziethen, Schleswig-Holstein
Ziethen is a municipality in the district of Lauenburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany....
, Lauenburg. He is remembered for his research of benthic
Benthic zone
The benthic zone is the ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water such as an ocean or a lake, including the sediment surface and some sub-surface layers. Organisms living in this zone are called benthos. They generally live in close relationship with the substrate bottom; many such...
marine algae.
He initially studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
, but his interest later changed to botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
. In 1879 he became a professor of botany at the University of Göttingen, where he established the institute of plant physiology
Plant physiology
Plant physiology is a subdiscipline of botany concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants. Closely related fields include plant morphology , plant ecology , phytochemistry , cell biology, and molecular biology.Fundamental processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrition,...
. From 1885 until 1921 Reinke was a professor at the University of Kiel
University of Kiel
The University of Kiel is a university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and has approximately 23,000 students today...
. In addition, he was a co-founder of the Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft.
Reinke had a keen interest in the systematics, developmental cycles, cytology
Cell biology
Cell biology is a scientific discipline that studies cells – their physiological properties, their structure, the organelles they contain, interactions with their environment, their life cycle, division and death. This is done both on a microscopic and molecular level...
and physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
of brown algae
Brown algae
The Phaeophyceae or brown algae , is a large group of mostly marine multicellular algae, including many seaweeds of colder Northern Hemisphere waters. They play an important role in marine environments, both as food and for the habitats they form...
. From 1888 to 1892 he published a number of articles on marine algae from the North
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
and Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
s. From the Baltic Sea, he described several new genera of algae. He published works on the algal families Tilopteridaceae (1889) and Sphacelariaceae (1890), and postulated that the encrusting algae genus called Aglaozonia was a stage in the life history of Cutleria
Cutleriales
Cutleriales is an order in the brown algae . It is composed of 2-6 genera, based upon various circumscriptions. The circumscription in the taxobox is the list of genera from AlgaeBase, although only 3 of these genera are listed as containing species, 11 species in Cutleria, and one each in...
.
Reinke was a proponent of scientific "neo-vitalism
Vitalism
Vitalism, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is#a doctrine that the functions of a living organism are due to a vital principle distinct from biochemical reactions...
", and a critic of the Darwinian
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
theory of evolution. In 1901 he introduced the term "theoretical biology" to define biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
from a standpoint of concepts and theories, and to differentiate it from traditional "empirical biology". Reinke attempted to explain the evolutionary processes of life through a concept of morphogenesis
Morphogenesis
Morphogenesis , is the biological process that causes an organism to develop its shape...
and genetic regulation he referred to as the "Dominanten" theory. Among his written works was a book that discussed the relationship of philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
to science.
He died in Preetz
Preetz
Preetz is a town in the district of Plön, in Schleswig-Holstein, Northern Germany. In the town centre is a small lake, the Kirchsee.-History:...
.
Selected publications
- Lehrbuch der allgemeinen Botanik (Textbook of General Botany), 1880
- Atlas deutscher Meeresalgen (Atlas of German Marine Algae), 1889 and 1891
- Einleitung in der theoretische Biologie (Introduction to Theoretical Biology), 1901, 2nd ed. 1910
- Philosophie der Botanik (Philosophy of Botany), 1905
- Kritik der Abstammungslehre (Critique concerning the Theory of Evolution), 1920
- Naturwissenschaft, Weltanschauung, Religion, (1923).
- Das dynamische Weltbild (The Dynamic World View), 1926