Thévenot can be credited in sponsoring a scientific study that contributed to the discovery of the nature and mechanism of fertilization both in humans and in animals in general. In April 1665, he wrote to his friend Christiaan Huygens (1629–95), a Dutch mathematician and astronomer: "We took the opportunity provided by the cold of recent months and applied ourselves to dissections and to investigating the Generation of animals" (Thévenot 1665). The "we" referred to two of Thévenot's protégés, the Dutchman Jan Swammerdam (1637–1680) and the Dane Niels Stensen ("Steno") (1638–86).