Nick Martin
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Gordon Martin (born 14 February 1950) is a leading behavior geneticist
who has published over 600 peer-reviewed articles on topics as diverse as the heritability of religion
and intelligence
to medical disorders such as endometriosis
. This work has had a broad impact, reflected in the fact that Martin is among the most cited medical scientists in the Southern Hemisphere, with a number of citation classics including "Genes, culture and personality: An empirical approach" that he co-authored with Lindon Eaves and Hans Eysenck
(cited over 600 times), "Analysis of the p16 gene (CDKN2) as a candidate for the chromosome 9p melanoma susceptibility locus" (Nature
; cited over 460 times), and "Genetic and environmental contributions to alcohol dependence risk in a national twin sample" (cited over 400 times).
. In 1972 he established a sample of twins in Adelaide
while completing his honours thesis.
in 1977 under Lindon Eaves at University of Birmingham
, the then centre of a remarkably productive period in the history of genetics. After working as a research fellow at the Department of Genetics of the University of Birmingham (1976–1978) and at the Department of Population Biology, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University
(1978–1983), he took a post as an assistant professor in the Department of Human Genetics at the Medical College of Virginia
(1983–1986). He returned to Australia in 1986, moving to Brisbane
where he currently directs the Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research
(QIMR). Since 1992, he has been an adjunct professor in the Departments of Pathology (1993), Zoology (1996), and Psychology (2003) at the University of Queensland, and senior principal research fellow at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research
.
Together with J.D. Mathews, he established in 1978 the Australian Twin Registry. QIMR is now home to one of the larger twin studies in the world.
He has supervised over a dozen graduate students, many of whom have professorships in their own right, and is currently supervising a further half dozen.
award for best paper in Behavior Genetics
(1999 & 2003), the Dobzhansky
Award for Outstanding Contributions to Behavior Genetics (2005), and the James Shields
Award of the International Society of Twin Studies for outstanding contributions to Twin Research (1986), and is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
. In addition, he has been President of the Behavior Genetics Association
(1996-1997), and is editor-in-chief of Twin Research and Human Genetics
. He is on the editorial board
s of several major journals, and is on the advisory board of the Australian NHMRC Twin Registry.
Behavioural genetics
Quantitative human behavioural genetics is a specialisation in the biological field of behaviour genetics that studies the role of genetics in human behaviour employing quantitative-genetic methods. The field is an overlap of quantitative genetics and psychology...
who has published over 600 peer-reviewed articles on topics as diverse as the heritability of religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
and intelligence
Intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving....
to medical disorders such as endometriosis
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a gynecological medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the ovaries. The uterine cavity is lined by endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones...
. This work has had a broad impact, reflected in the fact that Martin is among the most cited medical scientists in the Southern Hemisphere, with a number of citation classics including "Genes, culture and personality: An empirical approach" that he co-authored with Lindon Eaves and Hans Eysenck
Hans Eysenck
Hans Jürgen Eysenck was a German-British psychologist who spent most of his career in Britain, best remembered for his work on intelligence and personality, though he worked in a wide range of areas...
(cited over 600 times), "Analysis of the p16 gene (CDKN2) as a candidate for the chromosome 9p melanoma susceptibility locus" (Nature
Nature (journal)
Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
; cited over 460 times), and "Genetic and environmental contributions to alcohol dependence risk in a national twin sample" (cited over 400 times).
Early life
Martin studied at the University of AdelaideUniversity of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
. In 1972 he established a sample of twins in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
while completing his honours thesis.
Academic career
Martin moved to the United Kingdom to complete a PhDDoctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1977 under Lindon Eaves at University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, the then centre of a remarkably productive period in the history of genetics. After working as a research fellow at the Department of Genetics of the University of Birmingham (1976–1978) and at the Department of Population Biology, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
(1978–1983), he took a post as an assistant professor in the Department of Human Genetics at the Medical College of Virginia
VCU Medical Center
VCU Medical Center, is Virginia Commonwealth University's medical campus located in downtown Richmond, Virginia in the Court End neighborhood. The VCU Medical Center used to be known as the Medical College of Virginia until it merged with the Richmond Professional Institute in 1968 to create...
(1983–1986). He returned to Australia in 1986, moving to Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
where he currently directs the Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Queensland Institute of Medical Research
The Queensland Institute of Medical Research is one of Australia’s largest medical research institutes, and is recognised worldwide for the quality of its research. QIMR was established in 1945 by an Act of the Government of Queensland. The original purpose of the Institute was to further the...
(QIMR). Since 1992, he has been an adjunct professor in the Departments of Pathology (1993), Zoology (1996), and Psychology (2003) at the University of Queensland, and senior principal research fellow at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Queensland Institute of Medical Research
The Queensland Institute of Medical Research is one of Australia’s largest medical research institutes, and is recognised worldwide for the quality of its research. QIMR was established in 1945 by an Act of the Government of Queensland. The original purpose of the Institute was to further the...
.
Together with J.D. Mathews, he established in 1978 the Australian Twin Registry. QIMR is now home to one of the larger twin studies in the world.
He has supervised over a dozen graduate students, many of whom have professorships in their own right, and is currently supervising a further half dozen.
Honours
Martin has twice won the FulkerDavid Fulker
David W. Fulker was a behavioural geneticist. Among positions of esteem, he was elected president of the Behavior Genetics Association , and was executive editor of the society's journal Behavior Genetics...
award for best paper in Behavior Genetics
Behavior Genetics (journal)
Behavior Genetics is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published monthly by Springer Science+Business Media that is devoted to "research in the inheritance of behavior". It is the official journal of the Behavior Genetics Association. The journal was founded in 1971 with Steven G. Vandenberg as...
(1999 & 2003), the Dobzhansky
Theodosius Dobzhansky
Theodosius Grygorovych Dobzhansky ForMemRS was a prominent geneticist and evolutionary biologist, and a central figure in the field of evolutionary biology for his work in shaping the unifying modern evolutionary synthesis...
Award for Outstanding Contributions to Behavior Genetics (2005), and the James Shields
James Shields
James Shields was an American politician and United States Army officer who was born in Altmore, County Tyrone, Ireland. Shields, a Democrat, is the only person in United States history to serve as a U.S. Senator for three different states...
Award of the International Society of Twin Studies for outstanding contributions to Twin Research (1986), and is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia is an autonomous, non-governmental organisation, devoted to the advancement of knowledge and research in the social sciences. It was established in 1971...
. In addition, he has been President of the Behavior Genetics Association
Behavior Genetics Association
The Behavior Genetics Association is a learned society that was established in 1970 and promotes research into the connection between heredity and behavior.- Aims :...
(1996-1997), and is editor-in-chief of Twin Research and Human Genetics
Twin Research and Human Genetics
Twin Research and Human Genetics is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published bimonthly by the Australian Academic Press. It is the official journal of the International Society for Twin Studies . The journal covers research on the biology and epidemiology of twinning as well as biomedical and...
. He is on the editorial board
Editorial board
The editorial board is a group of people, usually at a publication, who dictate the tone and direction the publication's editorial policy will take.- Board makeup :...
s of several major journals, and is on the advisory board of the Australian NHMRC Twin Registry.