Nikolai Vavilov was a Russian botanist and geneticist born in 1887. He is best known for his work in plant breeding and for identifying the centers of origin for various crops. Vavilov's research emphasized the importance of genetic diversity in agriculture, which laid the groundwork for modern crop science. Vavilov founded the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Industry in 1921, where he collected thousands of seed samples from around the world. His efforts contributed significantly to the understanding of plant genetics and conservation, although he faced political persecution and died in prison in 1943.