Born: October 20, 1942 (Magdeburg, Germany)
Biography:
Christiane (Janni) Nüsslein-Volhard is a renowned German developmental biologist who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1995. She holds the distinction of being the only woman from Germany to have received a Nobel Prize in the sciences.
Nüsslein-Volhard was born on October 20, 1942, in Magdeburg, Germany. She grew up in south Frankfurt, where she was exposed to art and music, nurturing her ability to observe and recognize things. Her family had a strong background in science, with her great-grandfather, Jacob Volhard, being a chemist and her grandfather, Franz Volhard, a renowned internist. Nüsslein-Volhard’s passion for biology was evident from an early age, leading her to pursue the subject at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt.
In 1964, Nüsslein-Volhard moved to the University of Tübingen to study biochemistry. Initially interested in behavioral biology, she was drawn to molecular genetics as it represented the forefront of scientific research at the time. Her dedication and ambition led her to pursue a diploma in biochemistry, which she obtained in 1969. Four years later, in 1974, she earned her Ph.D. for her groundbreaking research on protein-DNA interactions and the binding of RNA polymerase in Escherichia coli.
Nüsslein-Volhard’s career truly took off when she joined Walter Gehring’s laboratory at the Biozentrum, University of Basel as a postdoctoral researcher in 1975. Gehring was a world-leading expert in the developmental biology of Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly), and under his mentorship, Nüsslein-Volhard developed her expertise in this field. In 1977, she continued her research in the laboratory of Klaus Sander at the University of Freiburg, where she focused on embryonic patterning.
In 1978, Nüsslein-Volhard and Eric Wieschaus, whom she had met in Basel, established their own laboratory at the newly founded European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg. Over the next three years, they conducted an extensive study, examining approximately 20,000 mutated fly families. Their research led them to identify around 600 mutants with altered body patterns, providing critical insights into the genetic control of embryonic development.
The groundbreaking work of Nüsslein-Volhard and Wieschaus played a pivotal role in elucidating the fundamental mechanisms that govern embryonic development. Through their meticulous experimentation and painstaking analysis, they uncovered key genes involved in the process, demonstrating how mutations in these genes could lead to severe developmental defects. Their findings revolutionized the field of developmental biology and paved the way for further research in this area.
In recognition of her significant contributions to science, Nüsslein-Volhard received numerous accolades throughout her career. In 1991, she was awarded the prestigious Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research. Four years later, in 1995, she was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, along with Eric Wieschaus and Edward B. Lewis, for their groundbreaking research on the genetic control of embryonic development.
Aside from her scientific achievements, Nüsslein-Volhard has been an influential figure in promoting gender equality and women’s participation in science. Her outstanding career and recognition as the only German woman to receive a Nobel Prize in the sciences serve as a powerful inspiration to aspiring female scientists worldwide.
Awards:
– Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research (1991)
– Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1995)