Theodor Boveri

Theodor Heinrich Boveri (October 12, 1862–October 15, 1915) was a German biologist whose work with sea urchins showed that it was necessary to have all chromosomes present in order for proper embryonic development to take place. His other significant discovery was the centrosome (1888), which he described as the especial organ of cell division.

He also reasoned that a cancerous tumor begins with a single cell in which the make up of its chromosomes becomes scrambled, causing the cells to divide uncontrollably.

It was only much later in the twentieth century that leading researchers came to believe that Boveri may have been correct.

See also Walter Sutton.