Fanny Angelina Hesse, working in her husband’s lab in the 1880s, changed microbiology forever. As a lab assistant, she suggested using agar to solidify culture media—a breakthrough idea that transformed how bacteria were grown and studied.
Before agar, scientists used gelatin, which often melted or was digested by bacteria. Fanny’s suggestion came from her experience using agar in the kitchen for desserts—it was heat-resistant and provided a stable surface for bacterial cultures.
Her husband, microbiologist Walther Hesse, presented the idea to his mentor, Robert Koch, who quickly adopted agar in his lab. This simple but ingenious solution became a standard method in microbiology, vastly improving bacterial research.
Despite her pivotal role, Fanny Hesse didn’t receive formal recognition in her lifetime. Her contribution, however, played a crucial role in advancing the study of infectious diseases and developing modern microbiological techniques.
The Kitchen Hack That Changed Microbiology 🔬
In the 1880s, Fanny Angelina Hesse, while assisting in her husband’s lab, suggested using agar to solidify culture media. This idea transformed bacterial research, replacing gelatin, which often melted or was digested by bacteria. pic.twitter.com/QBi9FuBHLr
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