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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> <title>Robert Hooke :: DNA from the Beginning</title> <meta name="description" content="Biography of Robert Hooke from Concept 6: Genes are real things, DNA from the Beginning" /> <link rel="preload" as="style" src="/css/main.css"> <link rel="preload" as="script" src="/js/swfobject.js"> <link rel="preload" as="script" src="/js/prototype-1.6.1.js"> <link href="/css/main.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Droid+Serif' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'/> <link href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Droid+Sans' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'/> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/swfobject.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/js/prototype-1.6.1.js"></script> </head> <body> <div id="container"> <div id="content"> <div id="header"> <div class="rollover-home"> <a href="/" class="rollover-home" title="DNA from the Beginning Home"><span class="displace">Home</span></a> </div> </div>  <div id="content-container"> <h1><span> Concept 6</span> Genes are real things.</h1> <div id="nav"> <ul> <li class="menu1"><a href="index.html" title="CONCEPT" ><span class="displace">CONCEPT</span></a></li> <li class="menu2"><a href="animation.html" title="ANIMATION"><span class="displace">ANIMATION</span></a></li> <li class="menu3"><a href="gallery.html" title="GALLERY"><span class="displace">GALLERY</span></a></li> <li class="menu4"><a href="av.html" title="VIDEO"><span class="displace">VIDEO</span></a></li> <li class="menu5"><a href="bio.html" title="BIO"><span class="displace">BIO</span></a></li> <li class="menu6"><a href="problem.html" title="PROBLEM"><span class="displace">PROBLEM</span></a></li> <li class="menu7"><a href="links.html" title="LINKS" ><span class="displace">LINKS</span></a></li> </ul> <br class="clearfloat" /> </div> <div id="bio" > <p> <a href="/6/bio.html"><img src="/images/6/bio_de_vries_thumb.jpg" alt="Hugo de Vries" class="floatLeft"/></a> <a href="/6/bio-2.html"><img src="/images/6/bio_correns_thumb.jpg" alt="Carl Correns" class="floatLeft" /></a> <a href="/6/bio-3.html"><img src="/images/6/bio_tschermak_seysenegg_thumb.jpg" alt="Erich von Tschermak-Seysenegg" class="floatLeft" /></a> <a href="/6/bio-4.html"><img src="/images/6/bio_hooke_thumb.jpg" alt="Robert Hooke" class="floatLeft" /></a> <a href="/6/bio-5.html"><img src="/images/6/bio_schwann_thumb.jpg" alt="Theodor Schwann" class="floatLeft" /></a> <a href="/6/bio.html">Hugo de Vries</a>, <a href="/6/bio-2.html">Carl Correns</a> and <a href="/6/bio-3.html">Erich von Tschermak-Seysenegg</a> were the three scientists who rediscovered Mendel's laws in 1900. They were all working independently on different plant hybrids, and came to the same conclusions about inheritance as Mendel. <a href="/6/bio-4.html">Robert Hooke</a> was one of the first scientists to describe a cell. <a href="/6/bio-5.html">Theodor Schwann</a> redefined the cell as a living unit.<br class="clearfloat" /></p> <div id="people-list"> <ul> <li><span class="small">Go to:</span></li> <li><a href="/6/bio.html">Hugo de Vries (1848-1935)</a></li> <li><a href="/6/bio-2.html">Carl Erich Correns (1864-1933)</a></li> <li><a href="/6/bio-3.html">Erich von Tschermak (1871-1962)</a></li> <li><a href="/6/bio-5.html">Theodor Schwann (1810-1882)</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="bio-current4"> <h2>Robert Hooke (1635-1703) </h2> </div> <br class="clearfloat" /> <div id="border"></div> <img src="/images/6/6dbio.gif" alt="Robert Hooke" class="floatRight" /> <p>Robert Hooke was born in Freshwater, England, on the Isle of Wight. Hooke was educated at Westminster, and in 1658, attended Christ Church at <a href = "http://www.ox.ac.uk/">Oxford University</a>. Presumably he paid for his education with some money he inherited on the death of his father. At Oxford, he met Robert Boyle who became his patron. Boyle hired Hooke to work in his laboratory, and also sponsored Hooke for membership in the <a href = "http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/">Royal Society of London</a>.</p> <p>The Royal Society was started for the purpose of discussion and promotion of subjects in natural sciences. Members gathered on a regular basis, and it was at one of these meetings in 1663 that Hooke showed them the power of his newly designed microscope. In 1665, Hooke published <i>Micrographia</i> which contained drawings and descriptions of all sorts of material he examined under his microscope including the famous cork cells. In the same year, Hooke became professor of geometry at <a href = "http://www.gresham.ac.uk/">Gresham College</a>, a post he occupied until his death. </p> <p>Hooke was a practical and theoretical genius in almost all fields of science. Long before <a href="/12/bio.html">Darwin</a>, Hooke recognized that fossils were remains of ancient life, and were historical life records. He was mechanically adept, and invented and improved many useful instruments besides the microscope. He invented the conical pendulum, spiral springs used in watches, the quadrant, the Gregorian telescope and the air pump used by Boyle for his experiments on gases. Hooke also designed (though never built) the steam engine, and described a working telegraph system.</p> <p>As a mathematician, Hooke worked on the problem of gravity and planetary orbits. He fought with Sir Isaac Newton over the origin of the inverse square law of gravity — Hooke accused Newton of having stolen the idea from him and often engaged him in very public and very loud debates.</p> <p>After the Great Fire of 1666, Hooke was chosen to design New Bethlehem Hospital in London, better known as Bedlam. He also designed a number of private houses in London.</p> <p>No known portrait of Hooke exists. He was described as a lean, ugly man, which may be a reason why he never sat for his portrait. Hooke died in London in 1703 at the age of 68.</p> <div id="factoid-bio"> <img src="/images/general/factoid.gif" alt="factoid" class="factoid-image" /> <img src="/images/general/didyouknow.jpg" alt="Did you know ?" /> <p>Theodor Schwann recognized that eggs, ova, are cells. In 1841, sperm were classified as cells when they were seen developing from testis cells.</p> <img src="/images/general/hmmm.jpg" alt="Hmmm..." /> <p>What is the largest single cell in existence?</p> </div>  </p> </div> </div> <br class="clearfloat" /> <div id="footer"> <ul> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/sitemap.html">Site Map</a></li> <li><a href="/scientists.html">Scientists</a></li> <li><a href="/glossary.html">Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="/feedback.html">Feedback</a></li> <li><a href="/awards.html">Awards</a></li> <li><a href="/credits.html">Credits</a></li> <li><a href="http://blogs.dnalc.org/dnaftb/" style="background-image:none;">Blog</a></li> </ul> <p> Funded by <a href="http://macyfoundation.org">The Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation</a><br /> © 2002 - 2011, <a href="http://www.dnalc.org/"> DNA Learning Center</a>, <a href="https://www.cshl.edu/">Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory</a>. All rights reserved. </p> </div>  </div> <div id="sidebar"> <div id="search" > <form method="get" action="/search"> <div class="fieldHolder1"> <input type="search" id="q" name="q" placeholder="Search" onclick="this.value=''" value="" /> <img style="background-color:#9C0;" src="/images/general/search_icon.jpg" alt="Search" onclick="document.forms[0].submit()" /> </div> </form> </div>  <div id="sidebar"> <ul class="sections-side sections-side1a" style="padding-top: 56px; margin-top: 3px;"> <li ><a href="/1/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/1-thumb-sm.png" alt="1." />Children resemble their parents.</a></li> <li ><a href="/2/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/2-thumb-sm.png" alt="2." />Genes come in pairs.</a></li> <li ><a href="/3/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/3-thumb-sm.png" alt="3." />Genes don't blend.</a></li> <li ><a href="/4/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/4-thumb-sm.png" alt="4." />Some genes are dominant.</a></li> <li ><a href="/5/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/5-thumb-sm.png" alt="5." />Genetic inheritance follows rules.</a></li> <li ><a class="concept-highlight" href="/6/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/6-thumb-sm.png" alt="6." />Genes are real things.</a></li> <li ><a href="/7/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/7-thumb-sm.png" alt="7." />All cells arise from pre-existing cells.</a></li> <li ><a href="/8/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/8-thumb-sm.png" alt="8." />Sex cells have one set of chromosomes; body cells have two.</a></li> <li ><a href="/9/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/9-thumb-sm.png" alt="9." />Specialized chromosomes determine sex.</a></li> <li ><a href="/10/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/10-thumb-sm.png" alt="10." />Chromosomes carry genes.</a></li> <li ><a href="/11/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/11-thumb-sm.png" alt="11." />Genes get shuffled when chromosomes exchange pieces.</a></li> <li ><a href="/12/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/12-thumb-sm.png" alt="12." />Evolution begins with the inheritance of gene variations.</a></li> <li ><a href="/13/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/13-thumb-sm.png" alt="13." />Mendelian laws apply to human beings.</a></li> <li style="border-bottom: 1px solid #669;"><a href="/14/"><img src="/images/thumbnails/14-thumb-sm.png" alt="14." />Mendelian genetics cannot fully explain human health and behavior.</a></li> </ul> <ul class="menu-side"> <li class="section2"><a href="/15/index.html" title="Molecules of Genetics"><span class="displace">MOLECULES OF GENETICS</span></a></li> <li class="section3" ><a href="/29/index.html" title="Genetic Organization and Control"><span class="displace">GENETIC ORGANIZATION AND CONTROL</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div>  <br class="clearfloat" /> </div>  <script type="text/javascript"> Event.observe(window, 'load', function() { var uri = '/6/bio-4.html'; uri = uri.replace(/-\d/,''); $('nav').down().descendants().each(function(s) { if (s.nodeName == 'A') { if (s.href.match(uri)) { s.addClassName('current'); throw $break; } } }); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-1818773-10']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = 'https://www.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); </script>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-K6EHFCRJBP"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-K6EHFCRJBP'); </script> </body> </html>