Is Karl Landsteiner the Einstein of the biomedical sciences?
If Albert Einstein is the acclaimed peerless genius among the physical scientists of this century, who can claim the equivalent title among the biomedical scientists? The research contributions of 24 Nobelists in medicine (contemporaries of Einstein) who received the Nobel prize between 1912 and 1966 were analyzed. When assessed on three criteria, (a) influence in multiple disciplines, (b) revolutionary in opening new vistas of knowledge, and (c) significant impact to human life, Karl Landsteiner's discoveries of the human blood groups stand out prominently. Thus, Landsteiner seems an appropriate choice to use as a 'control' to analyze Einstein's productivity.
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D000818:Animals; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D009613:Nobel Prize; D010825:Physics / Q000266:history*; D012586:Science / Q000266:history*