Question

First scientist to describe phagocytosis by white blood cells was:

• A. Emil Von Behring
• B. Walter Reed
• C. Elie Metchnikoff
• D. Jules Bordet

Hint:

Remember:
• Elie Metchnikoff \(\rightarrow\) Phagocytosis and cellular immunity
• Emil Von Behring \(\rightarrow\) Antitoxins
• Jules Bordet \(\rightarrow\) Complement system \[ \text{Phagocytosis} = \text{``Cell eating''} \]

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: Phagocytosis is the process by which certain cells engulf and digest foreign particles, microbes, or cellular debris. White blood cells such as:
• Neutrophils
• Macrophages perform phagocytosis as part of innate immunity. The scientist who first described this phenomenon was: \[ \text{Elie Metchnikoff} \] He is regarded as one of the founders of immunology.

Step 1: Understanding the discovery of phagocytosis. Elie Metchnikoff observed mobile cells engulfing foreign particles in starfish larvae and proposed that these cells protect the organism against infection. He introduced the concept of: \[ \text{Phagocytosis} \] Thus: \[ \boxed{\text{Elie Metchnikoff first described phagocytosis by white blood cells}} \]

Step 2: Understanding contributions of other scientists.
• Emil Von Behring worked on antitoxins and serum therapy.
• Walter Reed demonstrated mosquito transmission of yellow fever.
• Jules Bordet contributed to the discovery of the complement system. Hence, the correct answer is Elie Metchnikoff. \[ \boxed{\text{Metchnikoff} \Rightarrow \text{Father of Cellular Immunity}} \]