History of biology

Last updated: 01/02/2024
Contributor: Teachit Author
Image of History of biology resource
Main Subject
Key stage
Category
Biology
Inside
Includes answers
Resource type
Student activity
Working scientifically
Development of scientific thinking

A timeline summary of the key scientists in the history of biology, along with facts about their biological discovery or invention. Includes reference to the work of Harvey, Hooke, Linneaus, Jenner, Brown, Darwin, Lister, Pasteur, Kock, Fleming, Watson, Florey and Nobel Prize winner Barbara McClintock. 

This KS3-4 resource also includes a quick formative assessment or learning check in the form of a crossword (with answers for self- or peer-assessment) to assess students' understanding. This encourages closer engagement with the information as students skim and scan to answer the relevant clues.  

Download the accompanying resources, History of physics and History of chemistry if you are teaching combined science. 

Example biologists from the timeline: 

Alexander Fleming

(1881–1955)

1928

Scottish bacteriologist who discovered the penicillin mould which was found to kill bacteria.

Howard Florey

(1898–1968)

1938

Isolated the substance produced by the penicillin mould 10 years after Fleming’s discovery. Penicillin became the first antibiotic.

Francis Crick

(1916–2004)

1953

English biochemist who shared the 1962 Nobel Prize with James Watson for discovering the double helix structure of the DNA molecule.

Barbara McClintock

(1902-1992)

1983

American biologist who studied chromosomes and how they changed during reproduction (meiosis). She was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1983.

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