Johannes Frenzel (1853-1928) was a German biologist and zoologist who made significant contributions to the field of biology, particularly in the discovery and study of Placozoa.

Image of Johannes Frenzel (1895) by Luis E. Acosta

Personal Life

He was born on February 2,1853 in Reichenbach , a small town in the state of Saxony, Germany. His father Karl Friedrich Frenzel was a teacher and a Pastor while his mother Johanna Christiane(née Schäfer) was a homemaker. Frenzel attended the Gymnasium in chemnitz , Saxony before studying at Natural Sciences at the University of Leipzig.

Discovery of Trichoplax adhaerens

Frenzel's most notable contribution to science was the discovery of Trichoplax adhaerens, a simple multicellular animal that represents the phylum Placozoa. In 1892, he described the species in detail, recognizing its unique characteristics and simplicity. This discovery expanded the understanding of animal diversity and shed light on the evolution of multicellularity.

Contributions to Biology

Frenzel's work on Trichoplax adhaerens and Placozoa led to a better understanding of:

- The simplicity and diversity of animal life - The evolution of multicellularity - The classification and phylogeny of animals

Legacy

Frenzel's discovery of Trichoplax adhaerens remains a significant milestone in the history of biology. His work laid the foundation for future research on Placozoa and continues to inspire scientists studying animal evolution, development, and diversity.

Publications

Frenzel J.1891. Ueber die primitiven Ortsbewegungen der Organismen. Biologisches Centralblatt 11(15 u. 16): 464–474. BHL page 1606403
Frenzel J.1891. Das mesozoon: Salinella. Biologisches Centralblatt 11(19): 577–581. BHL page 1606516
Frenzel J.1892. Untersuchungen über die mikroskopische Fauna Argentiniens. Archiv für Naturgeschichte 58: 66– 96. BHL page 6386814.

References

- Frenzel, J. (1892). "Ueber eine neue einfache Wurmform aus der Familie der Ctenophoren." Zeitschrift für Wissenschaftliche Zoologie, 54: 265-275. - Frenzel, J. (1894). "Trichoplax adhaerens, ein einfacher Organismus aus der Nordsee." Zeitschrift für Wissenschaftliche Zoologie, 57: 417-426.