David Keilin

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David Keilin

1887-1963

Russian-English biochemist and parasitologist best known for his work on the life-cycle of the parasitic and free-living Diptera. Born of Polish parents, Keilin studied in Moscow, Warsaw, Liege, and Paris. Through his biochemical research he discovered cytochrome, an intracellular respiratory pigment, and hemocuperein, a copper protein in red corpuscles. He researched and published on a wide range of topics—from the suspended animation of living things to the history of biology—and aided the careers of many younger scientists.