The madness of King George III and Queen Victoria's haemophilia - a molecular detective story
Martin Warren, University of Kent, UK
| When |
26 Oct, 2009
from
12:00 pm to 01:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Where | Room 2.13 |
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ITQB Seminar
Title: The madness of King George III and Queen Victoria's haemophilia - a molecular detective story
Speaker: Martin Warren
Affiliation: Department of Biosciences, University of Kent, UK
Host: Lígia Saraiva-Molecular Genetics of Microbial Resistance Laboratory
Abstract:
Besides being involved in the study of Tetrapyrrole Biosynthesis, Prof. Martin Warren develops research in the area of Scientific-Historiography where he showed that the enzymes of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis have influenced History. In fact, “lead poisoning, which affects the enzyme aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase, has been blamed for the fall of the Roman Empire, the calamitous Franklin expedition to the arctic and the Devonshire colic” (Prof. Warren’s quotation). Importantly, he proved that George III who suffered from porphyria, known as the “Madness of King George III”, resulted from mutations in porphobilinogen deaminase enzyme. This disease was transmitted through Queen Victoria into the British and German Royal families.
