Goodsir, John (1814–1867)

Scottish anatomist who was particularly interested in the structure and function of living cells, and contributed to the development of the theory that all living things are made up of cells, proposed by Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann 1839.

Goodsir made many contributions to the development and acceptance of the cell theory by confirming its fundamental tenets in his microscopic observations as an anatomist. He also advanced our knowledge of the cell as a centre of nutrition and of the secretory functions of certain cells.

Goodsir was born in Anstruther in Scotland and studied at the University of St Andrews and then the University of Edinburgh. He chose initially to specialize in surgery and joined his father's practice before being elected professor of anatomy at the University of Edinburgh in 1846.