Walther Flemming

Born Apr. 21, 1843, in Sachsenberg; died Aug. 4, 1905, in Kiel. German histologist.

Flemming was a professor at the universities in Prague (from 1873) and Kiel (1876–1901). His main works dealt with the histology of mollusks, tissue regeneration, connective and adipose tissue, follicle structure, and spinal ganglia cells. His research on the fine structure of the cell became especially well known. Flemming used his own fixing method (Flemming’s fixing fluid) and staining method to study the structure of protoplasm, the nucleus, and centrosomes and the process of cell division, both direct and indirect. This research was very important for the development of cytology. Flemming’s fixing and staining methods became widely used in laboratories.