🦠microbiology review

Altmann

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025

Definition

Richard Altmann was a German pathologist who contributed to the identification of mitochondria. He coined the term 'bioblasts' for these structures, which were later renamed mitochondria.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Altmann's discovery of bioblasts laid the groundwork for understanding cellular respiration.
  2. He used advanced staining techniques to visualize these organelles under a microscope.
  3. Altmann's work was pivotal in demonstrating that cells contain specific structures responsible for energy production.
  4. His studies helped shift the focus from cell theory to more detailed investigations of cell components.
  5. The renaming of bioblasts to mitochondria was done by Carl Benda in the late 1890s.
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