Kathleen Drew Baker
By
Veronica Rodriguez
Ecol 475
Background
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Born on November 6, 1901 in
Leigh, Lanchester.
British scientist attended the
University of California
Obtained her B.S. and M.S in
Botany
She was awarded an Ashburn
Hall Research Scholarship in
1922
Achievements
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She issued 27 papers in botany; 24 of them were
published.
In 1928, her work was published in the University of
California Publications in Botany
In 1953, she became the first president of British
Phycological Society.
During her 33 years of research in
botany she collected over 2,700 species.
After her death, the collection was
donated to the British Museum.
Discovery
The “purple seaweed”
Poryphyra was considered a
single life history stage.
o In 1949, Kathleen Drew Baker
discovered the lifecycle of the
seaweed Poryphyra.
o She realized the Conchocelis
rosea was part of the life cycle
of the Poryphyra.
o Porphyra has a trimorphic life
history, with a thallus stage,
carposporophyte stage and a
filamentous Conchocelis
phase (sporophyte stage).
o
Contribution
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Her discovery lead to the establishment of an artificial
nori-farming technology in Japan.
She helped the economy of Japan and provided reliable
cultivation of Nori seeding.
Nori- (commonly known in Japan) name given to the
processed Poryphyra into traditional food.
Before her discovery, the annual production of nori from
1925 to 1957 was 3-5,000 tons.
After her discovery, the annual production of nori from
1958-1980 was 5,000-35,000 tons.
Nori
Preparation:
1) Washed in freshwater to get rid of
sediments.
2) Chopped into fine pieces.
3) Spread on frames to dry.
Food:
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High amount of fiber, protein, vitamins,
and minerals.
Contains Vitamin A, Vitamin B, and
zinc.
Abundant amount of taurine – effective
for liver activity
Helps prevent gallstone disease
Controls blood cholesterol levels
Lowers risk of catacts
In Her Memory
Monument in Japan:
o Monument build inside the Sumiyoshi
Shrine in Uto City in Kumamoto in
1963 (six years after her death).
o Monument has the resemblance of
Dr. Drew’s image inscribed on a
monument.
o In 2001, her 100th aniversary was
celebrated and her two children:
Kathleen Fances Biggs and John
Rendle Baker.
Museum of Science and Industry
o The Manchester’s New Science
gallery have a microscope of Dr.
Drew donated by his son.