Robbins, a plant physiologist who became director of
the New York Botanical Gardens, and Christine (née
Chapman).
He received a B.A. from the University of Missouri
in1936 and, two years later, a B.S. In 1940 he graduat-
ed from Harvard Medical School and became a resi-
dent physician in bacteriology at the Children’s
Hospital Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. He
left briefly in 1942 to serve in the U.S. Army.
Robbins returned to the Children’s Hospital Medi-
cal Center and completed his work in 1948. For the
next two years he held a senior fellowship in viral dis-
eases at the National Research Council, working with
Dr. John F. ENDERSin the Research Division of Infec-
tious Diseases at the Children’s Hospital Medical Cen-
ter. He was also a member of the faculty of the
Harvard Medical School. While he was working with
Enders, Robbins chiefly studied the cultivation of
poliomyelitis virus in tissue culture. In 1954 he received
the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine, along with
Enders and Thomas WELLERfor successfully cultivating
poliomyelitis virus in tissue cultures.
Robbins was an associate in pediatrics on the fac-
ulty of the HarvardMedical School; an associate in the
research division of infectious diseases, associate physi-
cian, and associate director of the isolation service at
the Children’s Hospital Medical Center; a research fel-
low in pediatrics at the Boston Lying-in Hospital; and
an assistant to the Children’s Medical Service, Mas-
sachusetts General Hospital.
In May 1952 he became professor of pediatrics at
Western Reserve University School of Medicine and
director of the department of pediatrics and contagious
diseases in the Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospi-
tal until 1966, and he served as a professor of pedi-
atrics (1952–80) and dean (1966–80) at the Case
Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleve-
land, Ohio. Over his long career he has been a member
of many scientific organizations.
rod cell One of two photoreceptor cells in the
retina, the other being cone cells. Rod cells are more
numerous around the peripheral areas of the retina
and are thousands of times more sensitive than cones.
They allow vision in the dark as well as side or
peripheral vision.
See alsoCONE CELL.
rodent Amember (mammal) of the order Rodentia.
Examples include rats and mice.roentgen A measure of ionizing radiation named
after Wilhelm Roentgen, a German scientist who dis-
covered X rays in 1895. One roentgen is the amount of
gamma rays or X rays needed to produce ions, result-
ing in a charge of 0.000258 C/kg of air under standard
conditions.Romaña’s sign Various observations such as
swelling of lymph glands and unilateral palpebral
edema characteristic of Chagas’ disease. Named for
Argentine physician Cecilio Romaña.root Part of the plant, found mostly underground,
that withdraws water and other nutrient from the soil
and sometimes accumulates reserves of nutrients.root cap A cap-shaped structure found on the tips or
ends of roots. They cover and protect the active grow-
ing region of the root known as the meristem.root hair Thin, hairlike extensions behind the root
tips in plants that are an extension of the root’s epider-
mis. They function as a large surface area to absorb
water and minerals.root pressure Forced water pressure in roots that
moves upward by the pumping of minerals into the
xylem.Ross, Ronald(1857–1932) EnglishPhysician, Ento-
mologist Ronald Ross was born on May 13, 1857, in
Almora, India, the son of Sir C. C. G. Ross, an English
army general. He lived in India until the age of eight
and then was sent to a boarding school in Southamp-
ton, England.
Ross began the study of medicine at St.
Bartholomew’s Hospital in London in 1875, passed
his exams in 1879, and entered the Indian Medical298 rod cell