Eörs Szathmáry

Eörs Szathmáry ( born 1959 in Hungary) is a Hungarian biochemist. He is a professor of biology with an emphasis in theoretical biology and head of the department "Plant Taxonomy and Ecology" at the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest. Together with John Maynard Smith, he is co-author of The Major Transitions in Evolution.

Life

After graduating in 1984 from the Eötvös Loránd University then studied abroad in the late 1980s in England, where he worked with John Maynard Smith. Further stations of his career include the National Institute for Medical Research in London, Zurich Zoological Institute and the Collège de France. He is now a professor of biology at the Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest and Permanent Fellow at Collegium Budapest / Institute for Advanced Study.

Research

• Theoretical evolutionary biology, mathematical description of evolution, general principles of evolution
• Genetic code, optimal size of the genetic alphabet, evolution and classification of replicators
• Cell formation
• Formation of animal societies
• Origins of human language
• Astrobiology

Memberships and Awards

Works

• John Maynard Smith: The Major Transitions in Evolution. Oxford University Press, New York 1995, ISBN 0 - 19-850294 -X.
• John Maynard Smith: Evolution: Processes, mechanisms, models. Spectrum, 1996, ISBN 3-8274-0022-8.
• John Maynard Smith: The Origins of Life: From the Birth of Life to the Origin of Language. Oxford University Press, Oxford 2000, ISBN 0 - 19-286209 -X.

• Articles in journals Journal of Theoretical Biology, Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere, Evolutionary Ecology and Evolution of Communication, Nature, Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States and the Journal of Theoretical Biology