Nüsslein-volhard, Christiane (1942–)

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Nüsslein-volhard, Christiane (1942–)

German biologist. Pronunciation: noos-line. Name variations: Nusslein-Volhard; Nuesslein-Volhard. Born Christiane Volhard, Oct 20, 1942, in Magdeburg, Germany; dau. of Rolf Volhard (architect) and Brigitte (Haas) Volhard (musician and painter); received degrees in biology, physics, and chemistry, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-University, 1964; received diploma in biochemistry, Eberhard-Karls University, 1968; University of Tübingen, PhD, 1973; postdoctoral work at Biozentrum Basel, 1975–76, and University of Freiburg, 1977; m. a man named Nüsslein (div.).

The 10th woman to win the Nobel Prize for Medicine as well as the 1st German woman to win a Nobel Prize for science (1995), initially became affiliated with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL, 1978), where she teamed up with Eric Wieschaus, another developmental biologist; became director of the Max-Planck-Institut for Developmental Biology (1985); with Wieschaus, received the Albert Lasker Medical Research Award (1991); with Wieschaus and Edward B. Lewis, awarded the Nobel Prize for genetic research on the fruit fly; her contributions to the field of genetics may help to explain why certain birth defects occur.

See also Women in World History.

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Nüsslein-volhard, Christiane (1942–)

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