Google Doodle honours Pap smear inventor Georgios Papanikolaou
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
Pioneering scientist, Georgios Papanikolaou would have been 136 years old Monday. The researcher is honoured with the May 13 Google Doodle, which celebrates his birthday — and his most important invention: the Pap smear.
His methodology opened up an entirely new field of medical study known as “cytopathology” which examines cells of the body to look for disease.
Papanikolaou was only 15 when he started medical school. In 1910 he received his PhD from the University of Munich and three years later immigrated to the US with his wife, Andromahi Mavrogeni. The duo found employment at Cornell University as researchers in the department of anatomy and began carrying out work studying cancers of the female reproductive system.
In 1928, he found that taking vaginal smears and examining them under the microscope enabled the detection of cancers. However, it took until 1943 for that work to be published.
Related items
-
Marinakis: There is no question of Greece's involvement in an operation in the Strait of Hormuz
-
Distinguished Cypriot chef Andreas Mavrommatis dies at age 69
-
Nea Makri: Three Turks arrested for shooting at car
-
Women Forward Summit in Athens highlights equality, leadership and the future of work
-
Greek-born casting director Cassandra Kulukundis makes Oscar history with first Best Casting award
Latest from E.Tsiliopoulos
- Marinakis: There is no question of Greece's involvement in an operation in the Strait of Hormuz
- Distinguished Cypriot chef Andreas Mavrommatis dies at age 69
- Nea Makri: Three Turks arrested for shooting at car
- Women Forward Summit in Athens highlights equality, leadership and the future of work
- Greek-born casting director Cassandra Kulukundis makes Oscar history with first Best Casting award
