Hans Christian Gram

Hans Christian Gram

Hans Christian Gram (1853 - 1958) Danish bacteriologist, who developed the Gram stain method of differential staining that has become a widely used method for classifying pathogenic bacteria. Gram was also among the first to notice that macrocytes are a characteristic feature of pernicious anemia, which was in fact the subject matter of his doctoral thesis. Gram studied botany before studying medicine and he retained a life long interest in plants. He was a very modest man and remarked on his publication of the Gram staining procedure that it was an imperfect method which he hoped would be improved upon by fellow scientists.