George E. Palade is credited with the discovery of ribosomes. In 1955, he identified them as small particles within the cytoplasm, often associated with the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. His work revealed their crucial role in protein synthesis within cells.
Palade's Contribution and Subsequent Research
Palade's discovery using electron microscopy was groundbreaking. He described ribosomes as small particles responsible for protein production within cells. While others had observed structures consistent with ribosomes earlier, Palade's work provided a detailed description and understanding of their function. Subsequent research has expanded our understanding of ribosome heterogeneity, structure, and diverse roles in protein synthesis. Scientists have continued to build upon Palade's initial discovery, investigating different types of ribosomes and their specialized functions within cells and across various tissues. Note that while Claude observed structures resembling ribosomes in 1941, and Robinson and Brown studied them in bean root cells in 1953, Palade's work provided the defining description and recognition of their significance.
- 1941: Albert Claude observed structures consistent with ribosomes.
- 1953: Robinson and Brown studied structures resembling ribosomes in plant cells.
- 1955: George E. Palade definitively identified and described ribosomes, highlighting their role in protein synthesis and association with the endoplasmic reticulum.
Sources:, (https://www.nature.com/scitable/definition/ribosome-194/), (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribosome)
