biology

Theo Wallimann

Theo Wallimann is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Theo Wallimann rather than just read about it. In short: Theo Wallimann (born 13 October 1946 in Alpnach, Obwalden, Switzerland) is a Swiss biologist who was research group leader and Adjunct-Professor at the Institute of Cell Biology ETH Zurich and later at the Institute of Molecular Health Science https://mhs.biol.ethz.ch/about-us/emeriti-formermembers/wallimann.html at the ETH Zurich at the Biology Department https://biol.ethz.ch/en/, of the ETH Zurich, Switzerland. Re…

Key takeaways

Theo Wallimann belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Theo Wallimann to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Theo Wallimann from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Theo Wallimann (born 13 October 1946 in Alpnach, Obwalden, Switzerland) is a Swiss biologist who was research group leader and Adjunct-Professor at the Institute of Cell Biology ETH Zurich and later at the Institute of Molecular Health Science https://mhs.biol.ethz.ch/about-us/emeriti-formermembers/wallimann.html at the ETH Zurich at the Biology Department https://biol.ethz.ch/en/, of the ETH Zurich, Switzerland.

Research and career In 1975, Theo Wallimann completed his Ph.D. Dissertation on “M-line-bound Creatine Kinase and Myofibrillar Structure” in the laboratory of Prof. Hans M. Eppenberger at the Institute of Cell Biology at ETH Zurich with distinction and received the ETH prize and medal. From 1975 - 1981, Wallimann worked as a post-doctoral research associate with Andrew G. Szent-Györgyi , at the Biology Department of Brandeis University on the subject of "Myosin-linked calcium regulation of muscle contraction". After rejoining the Biology Dept of the ETH-Zurich in 1981, Wallimann became a Lecturer in 1984 with his Habilitation on: "Localization and function of M-line-bound creatine kinase: M-band model and Phospho-Creatine Shuttle"). In 1994, Wallimann was awarded the title of Professor and in the next two years he became Head and Deputy Head of the Institute of Cell Biology. Wallimann resigned from his post in June 2008 and is now Emeritus and member of the ETH Alumni organisation. In 2005, Wallimann was awarded with the Alfred-Vogt-Prize in 2005 and in 2023, 2024 and 2025 he received the Research.com Recognition Leader Award for Biology and Biochemistry in Switzerland. In 2025, Theo Wallimann has been honored by the International Society of Sports Nutrition with a “Life-time Achievement Award” for his research on the «Creatine Kinase System and Creatine», at the Internatl. Congress on «Creatine for Health», held during March 12th-16th 2025 in Munich, Germany: https://creatineforhealth.com/creatine-conference-2025/

Wallimann's main areas of interest are:

The high-resolution atomic structure, molecular physiology and subcellular compartmentation of creatine kinase (CK) isoenzymes (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10595529/) and (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10737943/) and of the Creatine Transporter (CRT), and in general, micro-compartmentation and metabolite channeling by multi-enzyme complexes. The mechanisms of the cell enhancing and neuro-protective effects of creatine supplementation in health (muscle strength, learning and memory) and disease (neuromuscular and neuro-degenerative disorders).(see the recent Conference Volume on "Creatine Supplementation for Health and Clinical Diseases" (2022) https://exerciseandsportnutritionlab.com/news/creatine-in-health-book-published/ The structure and molecular physiology of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), involved in cellular energy homeostasis and nutritional signalling, which is relevant for type-2 diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome and cancer.(for publications in PubMed see: and ).

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Theo Wallimann

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Theo Wallimann claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Theo Wallimann before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Theo Wallimann ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Theo Wallimann

In research: Theo Wallimann appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Theo Wallimann in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Theo Wallimann is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1946 births, Academic staff of ETH Zurich, Brandeis University alumni, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Theo Wallimann outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

Ask Teacher Smith questions about this articleOpens your AI tutor with a question about “Theo Wallimann” →

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study Theo Wallimann in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Theo Wallimann means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Theo Wallimann out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Theo Wallimann in simple terms?

Why does Theo Wallimann matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Theo Wallimann?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Theo Wallimann.