Vincent Wigglesworth
| Sir Vincent Wigglesworth | |
|---|---|
Vincent Wigglesworth
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| Born | 17 April 1899 |
| Died | 11 February 1994 (aged 94) |
| Nationality | British |
| Fields | Entomologist |
| Institutions | University of Cambridge |
| Doctoral students | Peter Lawrence |
| Known for | Metamorphosis hormones |
| Notable awards |
Royal Medal (1955) Fellow of the Royal Society |
Sir Vincent Brian Wigglesworth CBE FRS (17 April 1899 – 11 February 1994) was a British entomologist who made significant contributions to the field of insect physiology.
In particular, he studied metamorphosis. His most significant contribution was the discovery that neurosecretory cells in the brain of the South American kissing bug, Rhodnius prolixus, secrete a crucial growth hormone, prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH), which regulates the process of metamorphosis. This was the first experimental confirmation of the function of neurosecretory cells. He went on to discover another hormone, called the juvenile hormone, which prevented the development of adult characteristics in R. prolixus until the insect had reached the appropriate larval stage. Wigglesworth was able to distort the developmental phases of the insect by controlling levels of this hormone. From these observations, Wigglesworth was able to develop a coherent theory of how an insect's genome can selectively activate hormones which determine its development and morphology.
Wigglesworth served in the Royal Field Artillery in France in World War I. He received his degree from the University of Cambridge and lectured at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the University of London, and finally at the University of Cambridge.
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