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Martin Heisenberg | |
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Born | |
Alma mater | University of Tübingen |
Known for | Neurogenetics of Drosophila |
Spouse(s) | Apollonia, Countess of Eulenburg |
Children | Four sons, including Benjamin Heisenberg |
Parent |
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Relatives | Jochen Heisenberg (brother) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Neurobiology, Genetics |
Institutions | Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics University of Utah University of Würzburg Rudolf Virchow Center |
Doctoral advisor | Max Delbrück |
Martin Heisenberg (born 7 August 1940)[1] is a German neurobiologist and geneticist. Before his retirement in 2008, he held the professorial chair for genetics and neurobiology at the Bio Centre of the University of Würzburg. Since then, he continues his research with a senior professorship at the Rudolf Virchow Center of the University of Würzburg. Heisenberg studied chemistry and molecular biology in Munich, Tübingen and Pasadena. In 1975 he became Professor of genetics and neurobiology at the University of Würzburg. Heisenberg's work has focused on the neurogenetics of Drosophila (the fruit fly), with the aim of investigating the genetic foundations of the Drosophila brain by studying the effect of genetic mutations on brain function. In addition, Heisenberg contributed a number of essays on the topics of science in society, perception, as well as the question of the freedom of the will. He was elected as a member of the Leopoldina in 1989.[2]
Martin Heisenberg is a son of the physicist Werner Heisenberg, who is known for the creation of quantum mechanics and discovering the uncertainty principle. He is married to Apollonia, Countess of Eulenburg. They have four sons, including film director Benjamin Heisenberg. He is the brother of physicist Jochen Heisenberg.