Ernest Everett Just is an African American biologist and a science and academic writer. He is known for many things but mostly for recognizing the fundamental role of cell surfaces in organism development. Just was born on August 14th of 1883 in Charleston, South Caroline to Charles Frazier Just Jr. and Mary Matthews Just. For high school education, he enrolled in Kimball Union Academy, completing the 4-year program in just 3 years and with the highest grades in his class. He also graduated as Valedictorian. In later years, he would graduate from Dartmouth College with a Special Honors degree in Zoology. Within his college years, he would develop an interest in biology after learning about cell development and fertilization. Just earned a Ph.D. in 1916 while teaching at Howard University, and was the first African American to do so. Taking his research abroad, Just travelled to Naples, Italy and partook in many zoology experiments. He claimed that he enjoyed studying in Europe because he did not face as much discrimination as if he were to study in America. When the German Nazis invaded Italy in World War II, Just relocated to Paris and proceeded to finish his studies in France. He was determined to know more about the embryology of cells and the effect of ultraviolet radiation on cells. In 1939, he authored 2 books: Basic Methods for Experiments on Eggs of Marine Animals and The Biology of the Cell Surface. As he continued to finish his research in Roscoff, France; the French government advised foreigners to evacuate the country in order to escape the German Nazis. Just decided to stay, eventually being imprisoned but later released with the help of the family of his second wife (who were German citizens). After being released, Just was set to go home back to Washington, D.C but he had been ill for months prior, later finding out he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Just died on October 27th, 1941.
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Wikimedia Foundation. (n.d.). Ernest Everett Just. Wikipedia. Retrieved February 26, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Everett_Just
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 