Otto Heinrich Warburg

Otto Heinrich Warburg - Physicians, Family and Childhood

Violet FieldHome › GermanOtto Heinrich WarburgOctober 8, 1883399 views

0 based on 0 rates
Otto Heinrich Warburg Biography Stories 

Otto Heinrich Warburg's Personal Details

Otto Heinrich Warburg was a German physiologist and physician

InformationDetail
BirthdayOctober 8, 1883
Died onAugust 1, 1970
NationalityGerman
FamousPhysicians, Physiologists, Physicians, Physiologists
Universities
  • Heidelberg University
  • Humboldt University of Berlin
  • University of Freiburg
Birth PlaceFreiburg, Baden, German Empire
GenderMale
FatherEmil Warburg
Sun SignLibra
Born inFreiburg, Baden, German Empire
Famous asPhysiologist & Physician
Died at Age86

// Famous Physiologists

Alan Lloyd Hodgkin

Alan Lloyd Hodgkin

Sir Alan Lloyd Hodgkin was an English biophysicist and a physiologist who received the Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1963. This biography profiles his childhood, life, research, achievements and timeline.

John James Rickard Macleod

John James Rickard Macleod

John James Rickard Macleod was a Scottish biochemist and physiologist who is credited for the discovery of insulin. With this biography, explore in detail about his life, career, scientific research and timeline.

Emil Adolf von Behring

Emil Adolf von Behring

Emil Behring was a famous German physiologist who won the Nobel Prize for discovering an antitoxin for diphtheria. To know more about his childhood, career, profile and timeline read on

Otto Heinrich Warburg's photo

Who is Otto Heinrich Warburg?

Otto Heinrich Warburg was a German physiologist and physician. He was born into a renowned Jewish family but his father had converted to Christianity before his birth and his mother was a born protestant. Accordingly, he was declared a Mischling during the Nazi regime and allowed to carry on his research even when Jews were being systematically murdered by the state machinery. However, many were of the opinion that he was allowed to live because he was involved in cancer research. At the same time, he was so devoted to his work that he refused to leave Germany even though he was offered a chance to do so. That was mainly because relocating would have resulted in losing a lot of research potential. He hypothesized that a tumor cell turns cancerous when it starts generating energy by non-oxidative breakdown of glucose; contrarily, healthy cells generate energy from oxidative breakdown of pyruvate. However, he failed to reveal how cancer cells undergo unchecked growth. For his work on cancer cells he was twice nominated for Nobel Prize but received it only once.

// Famous Physicians

Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori was a physician and educator who developed the approach of Montessori education. This biography of Maria Montessori provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Severo Ochoa

Severo Ochoa

Severo Ochoa was a Spanish physician and biochemist who won the 1959 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Virginia Apgar

Virginia Apgar

Known for inventing a novel newborn scoring system, Virginia Apgar was a reputed Physician. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and other facts related to her life.

Childhood & Early Life

Otto Heinrich Warburg was born on October 8, 1883 in Freiburg, then under German Empire, into a renowned Jewish family. His father, Emil Gabriel Warburg, was a well-known physicist. He carried on research on kinetic theory of gases, electrical conductivity, gas discharges, heat radiation, ferromagnetism and photochemistry.

His father, Emil, had converted to Christianity before Heinrich’s birth and married Elizabeth Gaertner, who came from a Protestant family of bankers and civil servants. Heinrich was their only child.

In 1901, he enrolled at the University of Freiburg with chemistry as his major. Two years later he shifted to the University of Berlin and earned his PhD in Chemistry in 1906. The Nobel Prize winning chemist, Hermann Emil Fischer was his doctoral advisor.

Sometime now, he developed an interest in medicine and joined the University of Heidelberg. In 1911, he earned his MD, working under the renowned internist and physiologist, Albrecht Ludolf von Krehl.

Career

In 1908, three years before he earned his MD from the University of Heidelberg, Heinrich Warburg joined Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, a marine biological research institute in Naples as research scholar. He was affiliated with the institute until the start of the World War I in 1914.

While at the research institute, Warburg began experimenting on the consumption of oxygen in sea urchin. He proved that once the eggs are fertilized the rate of respiration increases six-fold and that iron is essential for proper growth at the larval stage.

During this period, he also discovered that small amounts of cyanide can inhibit cell oxidation. From this experiment Warburg inferred that at least one catalyst necessary for oxidation must contain a heavy metal.

However, as the World War I set in 1914, Warburg left Naples. Subsequently, he joined the Prussian Guard Regiment (Uhlans) as an officer and was awarded the Iron Cross (1st Class) for bravery.

In 1918, just before the end of the war he left the army on the advice of Albert Einstein and joined Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Biology in Berlin-Dahlem as a professor. However, he was absolved from teaching duties and this allowed him to devote all his time to research work

Warburg now began to concentrate on photosynthesis and energy transfer in cells. Although he did not focus specifically on cancer cells until 1920s, his present work formed the foundation of his research on that.

From early 1920s, he started investigating the method by which cells in living organisms consume oxygen. Sometime now, he also developed manometers capable of measuring gas pressure and monitoring respiration in cells.

He then began to look for those constituents in cells, which were directly involved in consumption of oxygen. He also identified the function of cytochromes, an enzyme in which molecular oxygen is bound by iron-containing heme group.

He next conducted experiments with carbon monoxide and found that it slowed down respiration in the same way as cyanide did. He also found that light at specific frequency could thwart the inhibitions caused by carbon monoxide.

He also showed that the enzymes that transferred oxygen were different from other iron-containing enzymes and then discovered how iron affected cell's use of oxygen. His research in cellular catalysts and their role in respiration earned him the Nobel Prize in 1931.

Warburg now began to delve deeper and in 1932, discovered the flavoproteins, which take part in the dehydrogenation reactions in cells. He also discovered that flavoproteins do not act alone, but in conjunction with a non-protein component called flavin adenine dinucleotide. These are now called co-enzymes.

Sometime between 1932 and 1933, Warburg discovered Vitamin A in the retina. Next in 1935, he discovered nicotinamide, which forms part of another coenzyme, now called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide.

Subsequently, he concluded that these newly discovered co-enzymes, along with the iron-oxygena discovered earlier, are responsible for the oxidations and reductions in the living world.

By this time, the Nazis had come to power in Germany. Although Warburg’s father was born Jewish, he was left alone mainly because he was doing his research on cancer.

It is said that Hitler began to suspect he had developed cancer after a polyp was removed from his vocal cord. This fear not only helped Warburg to survive, but also carry on his research. He was however, not allowed to teach.

Warburg was so much dedicated to his research that he ignored the fate of his co-religionist and even his family. He also refused to relocate despite being offered a chance by the Rockefellers because that would have involved setting up from the scratch, which would have much of the research potential.

In 1944, Warburg was nominated for a second Nobel Prize in Physiology by Albert Szent-Györgyi, for his work on nicotinamide and the discovery of flavin. However, he failed to win it, perhaps because his involvement with Nazi Germany.

In 1950 Warburg moved the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Cell Physiology to a new building and continued working there till his death in 1970. During these twenty years, he had published 178 scientific papers. For his dedication and productivity, he was exempted from the retirement rule and allowed to work almost till his death.

Major Works

Otto Heinrich Warburg is best remembered for his work on cell oxidation on the effect of oxygen on cancer. He had established that cancerous cells can live and develop even in the absence of oxygen. His discovery opened up new directions in the fields of cellular metabolism and cellular respiration.

He had also discovered the iron-enzyme complex, which acts as a catalyst during cell oxidation. He also invented manometer, which is capable of measuring the respiration in healthy cells.

Awards and Achievements

In 1931, Warburg received Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine “for his discovery of the nature and mode of action of the respiratory enzyme”.

In 1934, he was appointed as a Foreign Member of the Royal Society.

In 1952, he received Pour le Mérite (Civil Class), which is a German Order of Merit, established in 1740 by King Frederick II of Prussia.

Personal Life & Legacy

Warburg’s devotion to his work was so intense that he did not find time to marry. To him, family life and scientific research were incompatible. In fact, according to one his colleagues, Karlfried Gawehn, except for death, there were no reasonable grounds for Warburg for not working.

He worked almost until the end of his life. He was however a lifelong equestrian and enjoyed the sport. He died on August 1, 1970 at the Berlin home he shared with Jakob Heiss.

In 1963, while he was still alive, the German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Gesellschaftfür Biochemie und Molekularbiologie) established Otto Warburg Medal. It is the highest award for biochemists and molecular biologists in Germany and honors pioneering work in the field biochemical and molecular biological research.

// Famous Physiologists

Theodor Schwann

Theodor Schwann

Theodor Schwann was a German physiologist who discovered the Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system. This biography of Theodor Schwann provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Wilhelm Wundt

Wilhelm Wundt

Wilhelm Wundt was a renowned doctor who conducted pioneering studies on experimental psychology. To know more about his childhood, career, profile and timeline read on

Charles Best

Charles Best

Charles Best was a great scientist and a renowned physiologist who is remembered for being the co-discoverer of insulin. Read this biography to learn about his profile, childhood, life and timeline.

Otto Heinrich Warburg biography timelines

  • // 1740 To 1952
    In 1952, he received Pour le Mérite (Civil Class), which is a German Order of Merit, established in 1740 by King Frederick II of Prussia.
  • // 8th Oct 1883
    Otto Heinrich Warburg was born on October 8, 1883 in Freiburg, then under German Empire, into a renowned Jewish family. His father, Emil Gabriel Warburg, was a well-known physicist. He carried on research on kinetic theory of gases, electrical conductivity, gas discharges, heat radiation, ferromagnetism and photochemistry.
  • // 1901 To 1906
    In 1901, he enrolled at the University of Freiburg with chemistry as his major. Two years later he shifted to the University of Berlin and earned his PhD in Chemistry in 1906. The Nobel Prize winning chemist, Hermann Emil Fischer was his doctoral advisor.
  • // 1908 To 1914
    In 1908, three years before he earned his MD from the University of Heidelberg, Heinrich Warburg joined Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, a marine biological research institute in Naples as research scholar. He was affiliated with the institute until the start of the World War I in 1914.
  • // 1911
    Sometime now, he developed an interest in medicine and joined the University of Heidelberg. In 1911, he earned his MD, working under the renowned internist and physiologist, Albrecht Ludolf von Krehl.
  • // 1914
    However, as the World War I set in 1914, Warburg left Naples. Subsequently, he joined the Prussian Guard Regiment (Uhlans) as an officer and was awarded the Iron Cross (1st Class) for bravery.
  • // 1918
    In 1918, just before the end of the war he left the army on the advice of Albert Einstein and joined Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Biology in Berlin-Dahlem as a professor. However, he was absolved from teaching duties and this allowed him to devote all his time to research work
  • // 1931
    He also showed that the enzymes that transferred oxygen were different from other iron-containing enzymes and then discovered how iron affected cell's use of oxygen. His research in cellular catalysts and their role in respiration earned him the Nobel Prize in 1931.
  • // 1931
    In 1931, Warburg received Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine “for his discovery of the nature and mode of action of the respiratory enzyme”.
  • // 1932
    Warburg now began to delve deeper and in 1932, discovered the flavoproteins, which take part in the dehydrogenation reactions in cells. He also discovered that flavoproteins do not act alone, but in conjunction with a non-protein component called flavin adenine dinucleotide. These are now called co-enzymes.
  • // 1934
    In 1934, he was appointed as a Foreign Member of the Royal Society.
  • // 1944
    In 1944, Warburg was nominated for a second Nobel Prize in Physiology by Albert Szent-Györgyi, for his work on nicotinamide and the discovery of flavin. However, he failed to win it, perhaps because his involvement with Nazi Germany.
  • // 1950 To 1970
    In 1950 Warburg moved the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Cell Physiology to a new building and continued working there till his death in 1970. During these twenty years, he had published 178 scientific papers. For his dedication and productivity, he was exempted from the retirement rule and allowed to work almost till his death.
  • // 1963
    In 1963, while he was still alive, the German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Gesellschaftfür Biochemie und Molekularbiologie) established Otto Warburg Medal. It is the highest award for biochemists and molecular biologists in Germany and honors pioneering work in the field biochemical and molecular biological research.
  • // 1st Aug 1970
    He worked almost until the end of his life. He was however a lifelong equestrian and enjoyed the sport. He died on August 1, 1970 at the Berlin home he shared with Jakob Heiss.

// Famous Physicians

Al-Zahrawi

Al-Zahrawi

Al-Zahrawi, was an illustrious medieval Arab Muslim physician and surgeon. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and interesting facts about him.

Jabir Ibn Hayyan

Jabir Ibn Hayyan

Jabir Ibn Hayyan was a medieval era polymath. Check out this biography to know about his life, works and achievements.

Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori was a physician and educator who developed the approach of Montessori education. This biography of Maria Montessori provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Mae Jemison

Mae Jemison

Mae Carol Jemison is a famous American astronaut who became the first African American astronaut to travel to space. To know more about her childhood, career, profile and timeline read on

Paul Farmer

Paul Farmer

Paul Farmer is an anthropologist and physician who co-founded the health organization - Partners In Health (PIH). This biography of Paul Farmer provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Jean Piaget

Jean Piaget

Jean Piaget was a psychologist and philosopher known for his theory of cognitive development. This biography of Jean Piaget provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Otto Heinrich Warburg's FAQ

  • What is Otto Heinrich Warburg birthday?

    Otto Heinrich Warburg was born at 1883-10-08

  • When was Otto Heinrich Warburg died?

    Otto Heinrich Warburg was died at 1970-08-01

  • Where was Otto Heinrich Warburg died?

    Otto Heinrich Warburg was died in Berlin

  • Which age was Otto Heinrich Warburg died?

    Otto Heinrich Warburg was died at age 86

  • Where is Otto Heinrich Warburg's birth place?

    Otto Heinrich Warburg was born in Freiburg, Baden, German Empire

  • What is Otto Heinrich Warburg nationalities?

    Otto Heinrich Warburg's nationalities is German

  • What was Otto Heinrich Warburg universities?

    Otto Heinrich Warburg studied at Heidelberg University, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Freiburg

  • Who is Otto Heinrich Warburg's father?

    Otto Heinrich Warburg's father is Emil Warburg

  • What is Otto Heinrich Warburg's sun sign?

    Otto Heinrich Warburg is Libra

  • How famous is Otto Heinrich Warburg?

    Otto Heinrich Warburg is famouse as Physiologist & Physician