The History of Cellulose

• Cellulose does not have a date of human discovery or invention, because cellulose has a history that stretches back way before the evolution of humans.  This compound has been a part of the Earth as long as plants and trees have flourished, because cellulose is what makes up plant cell walls.  Humans have observed cellulose in different forms for centuries, but have only understood the structure and make up of this compound since 1838.  That year, the French botanist Anselme Payen isolated cellulose from wood for the first time.  Ever since this first development, cellulose has been under continual examination since.    

• Cotton, for example has had a large impact on people.  The first meeting of the National Cotton Council of America was held on November 21, 1938.  Since then, changes in the manufacturing, uses, and purpose of cotton have changed.  One current concern is the genetically alteration of cotton.  Many farmers are interested in genetically mutating the DNA of cotton to produce larger, more prosperous pods of cotton.  One limiting factor to this development is the unknown medical side effects.      

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