Who Is Casimir Funk? Why Is Google Celebrating His 140th Birthday With A Doodle?

Google commemorated Polish-American biochemist Casimir Funk in their doodle, highlighting his pioneering contributions to the discovery and conceptualisation of vitamins and essential nutrients crucial for human health. Funk coined the term "vitamines" (later shortened to "vitamins") to describe these vital substances. Notably, he investigated the substance that conferred reduced susceptibility to Beri-Beri among individuals consuming brown rice compared to those consuming solely fully milled rice. This recognition was featured on the Google Doodle on February 23, 2024.

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Who Is Casimir Funk? 

Kazimierz Funk's journey began in Poland, where he grew up and pursued his early education. Following his high school graduation, he embarked on a journey to Switzerland to delve into the realms of biology and chemistry. Remarkably, at the young age of 20, Funk earned his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Bern, marking the commencement of his illustrious career across various European research institutions.

Over time, Funk's focus shifted towards exploring the impact of food components on prevalent illnesses such as scurvy, cancer, pellagra, and rickets. In a pivotal moment in 1911, he conducted experiments with a mysterious substance known as B1 (thiamine), transforming it into ingestible crystals that fostered cellular growth and function. He coined the term "vitamines" for his creation, derived from the Latin words "vita" (life) and "amine" (a chemical compound containing an amino group), later shortened to "vitamin."

In 1915, Funk moved to New York City, where he eventually became a naturalised American citizen in 1920. In the United States, he held research positions at various universities and later served as a consultant to the US Vitamin Corporation.

Continuing his groundbreaking work, Funk made further discoveries of different vitamins and their respective sources in food. With the publication of his book "Die Vitamine," scientists worldwide were spurred to unveil 13 additional vitamins over the subsequent 35 years. Funk's invaluable contributions to the fields of nutrition and medicine proved instrumental in combating ailments like scurvy and paved the way for numerous scientific breakthroughs.

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Funk Award

The Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America (PIASA) bestows the prestigious Casimir Funk Natural Sciences Award annually, recognising the outstanding achievements of Polish-American scientists. Esteemed recipients of this accolade have included Nobel Laureate Roald Hoffmann, Aleksander Wolszczan, Hilary Koprowski, Peter T. Wolczanski, Wacław Szybalski, Zbyszek Darzynkiewicz, and Benoit Mandelbrot, among others.

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