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Hispanic and Latino's Effect on Science and Technology

 Science and technology are everywhere. Everything we do, everything we see has some scientific or technological basis to it. Your alarm blares in the morning, you open your eyes, force yourself out of bed, and all of these are examples of how science and technology are relevant in our daily lives. Years ago, science would be the main bases of daily life, but as years pass, we as humans become more and more dependent on technology to get through the day. If a person of this generation does not know the answer to a question, their first thought is usually to “Google it.”

There have been a multitude of people who have had giant influences on the scientific and technological world. Most people know of the significant names of popular scientists, but one group of people, that not everyone would be able to name, have had a gigantic effect on science. Hispanics and Latinos have had such a big impact on the world of science and technology. One Hispanic man has done much for the growth in the scientific world. His name was Santiago Ramon y Cajal.

 Santiago was born in Petilla de Aragon, Navarre, Spain on May 1, 1852. He grew up surrounded by science and medicine. He was the son of a physician and an anatomy professor. In his adolescence, he was known as a trouble maker because he had trouble listening to those in authority and ended up transferring to several different schools throughout his academic career. He was incarcerated at the age of eleven for creating a homemade cannon and destroying his neighbor’s yard. He originally expressed an interest in art, but his father did not approve and made him intern at a barber and shoe shop. Hoping to spark an interest in science in Santiago’s mind, his father took him to a graveyard to examine bones. Sketching and drawing bones lead Santiago to find his true passion in science and medicine. //(Santiago Ramon Y Cajal Wikipedia)//

Santiago’s first job in medicine was in the Spanish army. While serving in the Spanish army as a doctor, he contracted tuberculosis and malaria, but after much time in a medicinal spa in Pyrenees, he got rid of the diseases. His next job in science began in 1883 at the University of Valencia where he became an anatomy professor. This job led to many early discoveries for Santiago. He focused on the pathology of inflammation, the microbiology of cholera, and the structure of epithelial cells and tissues. He learned of Golgi's silver nitrate preparation and turned his attention to thecentral nervous system while spending time at the University of Barcelona in 1887. He made many observations and studies of various species and most of the human brain. //(Santiago Ramon Y Cajal Nobel Prize)//

Santiago is most well known for his giant contribution to neuro-anatomy. He discovered the axonal growth cone and performed many experiments on various cells coming to the conclusion that the relationship between nerve cells was contiguous instead of continuous as most though. This turned into evidence of what would be known as the Neuron Doctrine in later years. This discovery is now thought of as the foundation of modern neuroscience. He provided detailed descriptions of different cell types that would be associated with neural structures. He also gave great interpretations of cell structures and their connectivity. //(Santiago Ramon y Cajal Fact Monster)//

He then began a more extensive study on paralysis. Throughout his time researching and studying paralysis, he discovered a new cell that would be named after him: The Interstitial Cell of Cajal (ICC). This cell is found interspersed among neurons implanted within the even muscle in the gut. It serves as the initiator of the slow waves of conflicting ideas. He also took an interest to the study of hypnosis. He studied it vigorously and found ways to coax women through labor by hypnosis. (//Santiago Ramon Y Cajal Wikipedia////)//  Santiago also received multiple awards throughout his life in science. Two of the most honorable awards of his were the Honorary Doctorates in Memory and a Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1906. Santiago Ramon y Cajal died on October 18, 1934 in Madrid, Spain. //(Santiago Ramon Y Cajal Wikipedia)//

 Santiago Ramon y Cajal dedicated his life to science. He is just one example of how much of a strong impact Hispanics and Latinos have had on science and technology. There have been so many different men and women with a Hispanic background that have changed the way science and technology are viewed by everyone today.

Work Cited

"Santiago Ramón Y Cajal." N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2014. .
 * This source is credible because upon looking at the reference list at the bottom of the page, many sites used university and official websites.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">"Santiago Ramón Y Cajal." //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Ramón Y Cajal, Santiago //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2014. <http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/people/ramon-y-cajal-santiago.html>.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">This site is a credible source because of how it matches up to other information found on a multitude of sites.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 1.5;">"Santiago Ramón Y Cajal - Biographical." //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 1.5;">Santiago Ramón Y Cajal - Biographical //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 1.5;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2014. <http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1906/cajal-bio.html>.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 1.5;">This source is credible because it is the from the Nobel Prize website.