Anton Quispel

Quispel, Anton

Hemeroteca Cientifica Catalana

The town of Delft, in the Netherlands, may be proud ofhaving been the habitat of three outstanding founders ofmodern microbiology: Anthony van Leeuwenhoek in the16th century, Martinus W. Beijerinck at the end of the 19thcentury and later in this century his successor in the chair ofmicrobiology Albert J. Kluyver. Lourens G. M. Baas Beckingmight have become a fourth name in this honourable serieshad he continued his studies at the technical university inDelft. But early in his career he switched to biology at theUniversity of Utrecht, where he became an assistant professorat the Plant Physiology Department, under the famous plantphysiologist F. A. F. C. Went. Becking’s scientific interestwas heavily influenced and inspired by the greatmicrobiologists from Delft, especially by the work ofBejerinck. It was Beijerinck’s application of the use ofselective nutrient media which became the base for BaasBecking’s general view of the role of bacteria in the cycle ofnutrients in the biosphere and the interactions between lifeand earth. Long before Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis, Beckingintroduced the concept of Gaia for these mutual interactionsin his inaugural address “Gaia or Life and Earth” as professorof general botany at the University of Leiden in 1931 [2].Lourens Baas Becking was born in Deventer on January4th, 1895. After his final examination in biology in Utrechthe moved to the USA, where he worked at the laboratory ofthe renowned geneticist T. H. Morgan. His thesis after hisreturn to Utrecht, “Radiation and Vital Phenomena”, wasbased mainly on work done in the USA. In 1923 he wasappointed professor at Stanford University in Palo Alto,California, USA, where he taught economic botany and plantphysiology. There he became fascinated with life underextreme environmental conditions, like those in salt-lakes,and soon his main interest turned to the interactions betweenliving organisms and their environment. His appointment asdirector of the Jacques Loeb Marine Laboratory in PacificGrove gave him the best opportunity for research in thisfield.In 1930 an appointment as professor of general botanyat the University of Leiden brought him back to theNetherlands. His arrival in Leiden must have been perceivedas a thunder-storm in the still conventional atmosphere of69Anton QuispelInstitute of Molecular Plant Sciences, Clusius Laboratory, University of Leiden, The NetherlandsCorrespondence to:Anton Quispel. Institute of Molecular PlantSciences. Clusius Laboratory.Postbus 9505. 2300 RA Leiden. The Netherlands. Tel.: +31-71-5275065. Fax: +31-71-5275088PERSPECTIVESINTERNATL MICROBIOL (1998) 1: 69-72© Springer-Verlag Ibérica 1998Lourens G. M. Baas Becking(1895–1963), Inspirator for many(micro)biologistsFig. 1 Lourens G. M. Baas Becking (1895-1963)the Botanical Laboratory. He introduced new concepts inbiology: ecological approaches in both field and laboratoryresearch, and the application of modern developments inphysics and chemistry in the realm of experimental biology.The observations made in the Californian salt lakesformed the base of a new research program. The study of saltlakes all over the world made it clear that certain organisms,which were highly adapted to these types of environment,could be observed in salt lakes widely dispersedgeographically. Special research was made on the algaDunaliella viridis [1], and the species of the crustaceanArtemia [10]. These natural distributions, compared withearlier laboratory observation by Bejerinck (e.g. on Sarcinaventriculi), led Becking to formulate Bejerinck’s ideas intotwo general laws. The first law for those organisms, especiallymicro-organisms, for which no difficult problems ofdistribution were limiting, stated that “everything iseverywhere”; the second: “the environment selects”.These laws, together with their applications to (micro)-organisms with different metabolic characteristics and theconsequences for their distribution on earth, formed the basisof the research program at the Leiden Botanical Laboratory.A series of lectures on these topics was given for the scientificsociety “Diligentia” in the Hague. They were published,unfortunately only in Dutch, under the title “Geobiology”[3]. I translate from the introduction to this book: “Theselectures are an effort to describe the relation between theorganisms and the earth. The name “Geobiology” merelyexpresses this relation. This new word does not want todescribe a new discipline. It tries to unite under one pointof view, as far as possible, phenomena which already wereknown in different areas of biology”. The book contained aseries of chapters on environment with emphasis on factorssuch as radiation, temperature, chemical characteristics (pH,carbon dioxide, ion-balance) and especially the role of water.After a description of the cycles of C, N and S, generalprinciples were applied to special types of environment:oligotrophic, eutrophic, oceanic and brine types.The fundamental importance of photo-radiation for lifeon earth stimulated further studies on photosynthesis,especially the structure of chlorophyll and its configurationin chloroplast membranes [6]. These studies were inspiredby ideas about the structures of biological membranes putforth by his colleague in medical biochemistry, H. G.Bungenberg de Jong.The unique combination of plant physiology, ecology andmicrobiology, both in Becking’s teaching program and theresearch in his department, led to several studies by PhDstudents on symbiotic associations [7, 9]. The results of thesestudies inspired him to develop a new definition of symbiosis:“all mutual dependence of vital-units (cells, tissues, organs,organisms) either of a parasitic, mutualistic or commensalisticcharacter”. It might be objected that such a broad definitionof symbiosis takes much away from the original definition.However, the present insight in the role of biochemicallyrelated signals in differentiation and morphogenesis, as wellas in plant (or animal)-microbe interactions, shows that it cannow be considered as a far-seeing view. Unfortunately, thesituation at the beginning of World War II prevented Beckingfrom writing a well-documented publication on this universalconcept of symbiosis [4, 5]. He did, however, ask me toinclude a short description of his concept of endosymbiosisin the introduction to my PhD thesis of 1943 [9], which alashas remained its only published form.Meanwhile his life had taken a new course. His restlessmind prevented him from restricting his interest to only onefield. Besides the different fields of research which heencouraged in his laboratory, he organized the restoration ofthe historical botanical garden of Leiden University.Returning from a visit to Australia to study the salt-lakes, hevisited the famous Botanical Garden of Buitenzorg (thepresent Bogor) on the island of Java. The neglected gardenswere in a pitiful state. He convinced the authorities that thissituation was unacceptable, which led to his appointment asDirector of “s Lands Plantentuin” in 1940. With his familyalready in Java, he returned for a short time to Leiden wherehe gave his valedictory lecture on April 24th 1940, a fewweeks before the attack by the German army. The subsequentfive years of German occupation prevented him from goingback to his work and his family in Java. His very strongrejection of nazi ideology played a major role in the strugglebetween the Leiden University with its maxim “PresidiumLibertatis” and the occupying forces. He twice tried to escapeto England leading to a temporary and a definiteimprisonment respectively, the last time nearly leading to hisexecution. During the last months of the war he spent histime of imprisonment studying the then developing epidemicof typhoid fever in his prison-camp and even found the mentalstrength to begin, under those circumstances, writing a bookon Geobiology. When the war was finally over he learnedthat his eldest son had died in battle on the Java-sea. TheIndonesian Revolution prevented him from starting his plansfor the garden in Bogor. In 1948 he was appointed vice-president of the scientific council of the “South PacificCommission” and moved to New Caledonia. It was there thathis wife died in a traffic accident.He found the possibilities for a normal life again inAustralia, where he obtained a post in the “CommonwealthScientific and Industrial Research Organization”, first in theOceanographic Institute in Cronulla N. S. W., later in Canberra.His influence there was so great that the Bureau of MineralResources established a “Baas Becking GeobiologicalLaboratory”, which after his death was continued under thedirection of Dr. Ph. Trudinger. Though Baas Becking was ofcourse grateful for this sign of recognition, he had to realizethat it had come too late for him. His health declined due to aheart attack which led to his death on January 6th, 1963.In one of the obituaries after his death, Professor V. J.70 INTERNATL MICROBIOL Vol. 1, 1998 QuispelKoningsberger, from the University of Utrecht, wrote: “BaasBeckimg was without any doubt one of the most gifted biologistsof his time. He moreover had great talents, as well, in othersciences and the arts. His ideas were nearly always originaland not rarely genius. His spirit, however, was so restless, thatin most cases he did not allow himself the time to thoroughlytest his ideas and to elaborate them” [8]. I agree with thisstatement, but must add that this was compensated by hisenormous inspiration and the stimulation of his students andcollaborators. From my own personal experience I realize thatthis inspiration has influenced my whole scientific life. Thesame can be said of many of his students and collaborators inCalifornia, in Leiden and in Australia. They therefore all willregret that, beside the small Dutch book on “Geobiology”,no book or review from his hands is available in a moreinternational language [11].There exists a manuscript for such a book written around1950 and discovered in 1976 when his former secretary inthe South Pacific Commission, Mrs. L. Dgraffy-de Peski,brought her copy to the attention of some Dutch biologists.It appeared to be the manuscript for the book he started whenimprisoned by the Germans. Additions were made in Cronullain 1950 and it appears to be the extended and internationallypublished version of his earlier Dutch book on “Geobiology”,which had the same title. The original manuscript of some750 pages is now kept in the library of the Royal NetherlandsAcademy of Sciences in Amsterdam. It has been reproducedand copies have been distributed among a few interestedbiologists and biological libraries in the Netherlands,including the library of the Botanical Laboratory (today inthe Clusius Laboratory) of the University of Leiden.Unfortunately, all of the approximately 350 figures arelacking, though a few were recovered during my visit to Dr.Ph. Trudinger in Canberra in December 1981. This lack ofessential documentation makes the publication of themanuscript in its present state impossible. Still moreimportant is the fact that the manuscript was finished priorto modern insights in biology thanks to the discoveries inmolecular and cellular biology. Many conclusions andconsiderations in the manuscript certainly should have beenre-written by Baas Becking in the light of this laterknowledge. Therefore, it is a great pity that only a verylimited number of (micro-)biologists were aware of thecontent of a manuscript which certainly could have had agreat influence if published in the early fifties.When we compare the text of the manuscript with the Dutchbook of 1934 we recognize the same concept: chapters on “theearth”, “the organisms”, “milieu”, “water”, “the influence ofthe organisms on the milieu”. An extensive chapter on“symbiosis”, including the old topic of nutrient cycles, and afinal chapter on “Man” are new. Of course, these chapters containfar more up-to-date (in 1952!) data if compared with the olderbook. There are, however, discrepancies between the chapters.Many chapters have a text-book character. The chapteron “water”, however, is a comprehensive monograph. Fromcorrespondence with the editor of the “Chronica BotanicaSeries”, Dr. Frans Verdoorn, we know that the latter suggestedpublishing this chapter as a separate volume. Baas Beckingrejected this proposal, though some papers found in Canberrain 1981 indicate that he was working on a monographic bookon this topic during his later years.In the two new chapters, “Symbiosis” and “Man”, we findmuch discussion on the relation between life and earth, ofevolution and the role of man in the biosphere. The broadconcept of symbiosis, best illustrated by a verse from a poemby Shelley: “nothing in the world is single”, is extended toman’s place in the biosphere and his dependence on nature.Here again the concept of Gaia is used and extended. “Manis not alone” and, as all other organisms, is highly dependenton the other participants of the biosphere. Man is part of ageneral symbiosis in which he must participate, but wherehe has made himself responsible for the stimulation ofdifferent aspects of dissipation. “The impact of mankind isno longer solely dependent upon its number, but on its power.A single man, by using all of the modern tools, could createmore havoc than the armies of Attila, Gzenghis-Khan andTimur-Lenk combined”... ”Humanity has become ageochemical factor of importance, it has become a forcetending to create its own biocenosis, its own successions...But, being men ourselves, we hesitate to admit that we, bydivine right proprietors of this earth, and as such exalted,are equally subject to the laws of nature”... “The attitude ofman towards the earth is still, on the whole, that of a parasite.For a parasite, nevertheless, the life of the host is of primeimportance”.Let us not forget that such remarks, now perhaps commonin discussions on environmental problems, were highly originalin 1952 and, unlike many more recent discussions, were basedon a thorough knowledge of existing data on the nature of livingorganisms, their relations with the environment and their mutualinteractions.Baas Becking’s enormous influence on all who had thefortune to call themselves his students, and many others,was a consequence of his own enthusiasm for the study oflife on earth and his awe for its mysteries. This may beillustrated by the words in the last letter he wrote me shortlybefore his death: “I think it delightful to have been anaturalist”.Notes and references1. Baas Becking LGM (1930) Salt effects on swarmers of Dunaliella viridisTeod J Gen Physiol 14:765-7632. Baas Becking LGM (1931) Gaia of leven en aarde. Oratie gewoonhoogleraar Rijksuniv. Leiden, Mart. Nijhoff’s Gravenhage, 20 pp3. Baas Becking LGM (1934) Geobiologie of inleiding tot de milieukundeDiligentia Wetensch. Serie 18/19, van Stockum’s Gravenhange, 263 pp4. Baas Becking LGM (1938) Symbiose, Verslagen Gewone Vergaderingen71Lourens G. M. Baas Becking (1895-1963) INTERNATL MICROBIOL Vol. 1, 1998Kon Nederl Acad van Wetensch. Af Natuurkunde 47:67-705. Baas Becking LGM, Quispel A (1945) Symbiose als stofwisselingVerslagen Gewone Vergaderingen Kon Nederl Acad van Wetensch.Amsterdam Jaarboek 1962/1963, pp 369-3756. Hanson EA, Meeuse ADJ, Baas Becking LGM (1938) A note on theclorophyll content of the granum. Chronica botanica 4:104-1067. Jongh Ph de (1938) On the symbiosis of Ardisia crispa (Thunb.) A. DC.Verhandelingen Kon Ned Akad Wetensch Afd Natuurkunde sectie 2, part37, number 6.8. Koningsberg VJ (1963) Levensbericht L. G. M. Baas Becking KonNed Acad Wetensch. Amsterdam Jaarboek 1962/1963 pp 369-375.See also: Went FW Obituary Dr. LGM Baas Becking Nature (London)198: 1349. Quispel A (1943) The mutual relations between algae and fungi in lichens.Rec Trav Bot Neerl 40:413-54110. Warren H, Kuenen D, Baas Becking LGM (1938) On the relationbetween internal and external medium in Artemia salina (L.) varprincipalis Simon, Proc Kon Ned Akad Wetensch. A‘dam afdnatuurkunde 41:873-87811. Westenberg J (1977) A bibliography of the publications of Lourens G.M. Baas Becking, North Holland Publ Comp, Amsterdam, 20 pp (Most references mentioned above were selected from this comprehensivelist of publications)72 INTERNATL MICROBIOL Vol. 1, 1998 Quispel

Lourens G. M. Baas Becking (1895–1963). Inspirator for many (micro)biologists

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Lourens G. M. Baas Becking (1895–1963). Inspirator for many (micro)biologists

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