Google on Tuesday paid tribute to Carlos Juan Finlay, a Cuban physician and scientist, on his 180th birthday by dedicating a doodle on its homepage.

The doodle also features mosquitoes breeding on the leaves in the stagnant water.

Born on December 3, 1833 in Puerto Principe, Cuba, of French and Scottish descent, Finaly was widely popular as a scientist and physician.

He is recognized as a pioneer in yellow fever research who put forward the theory that the virus is transmitted by the bite of female mosquitoes.

Finlay attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and graduated in 1855. After completing his studies he started his own medical practice in Havana.

His contribution to medical science was highly admired as he propounded the etiology of yellow fever - its causes and origins. During his time, yellow fever was considered to be a serious disease in Havana.

Despite his effort, his contributions were only widely recognized in 1900. And soon after his hypothesis was recognized he was appointed as the chief health officer of Cuba from 1902 to 1909.

His discovery also helped other scientist in carrying out experiments on mosquito-borne diseases.

For his contribution, Carlos Juan Finlay was nominated seven times for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

On August 20, 1915, Finlay died in his home in Havana due to a stro.