John Zachary Young (18 March 1907 – 4 July 1997), generally known as 'JZ', was an English zoologist and neurophysiologist, described as "one of the most influential biologists of the 20th century ... He had a huge presence, imposing stature and enormous energy and enthusiasm for his research and for the imaginative understanding and interpretation of the nervous system and brain function."^[1] March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ... 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 180 days remaining. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification    - by Athelstan 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi   - Water (%) Population... Zoology (Greek zoon = animal and logos = word) is the biological discipline which involves the study of animals. ... Neurophysiology is a part of physiology as a science, which is concerned with the study of the nervous system. ...

He was Professor of Anatomy at University College London, 1945-1974, then Professor Emeritus (Hon. Fellow, 1975). University College London, commonly known as UCL, is one of the colleges that make up the University of London. ... A professor is a senior teacher and researcher, usually in a college or university. ...

1928 - first class honours degree in zoology - Marlborough College, Magdalen College, Oxford. Marlborough College is a British boarding school in the county of Wiltshire, founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, although it now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. ... College name Magdalen College Named after Mary Magdalene Established 1458 Sister College Magdalene College President Professor David Clary FRS JCR President Iain Anstess Undergraduates 395 Graduates 230 Homepage Boatclub Magdalen College (pronounced ) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. ...

1945 - elected a Fellow of the Royal Society The premises of the Royal Society in London (first four properties only). ...

1973 - Linnean Medal (Gold Medal) for Zoology from the Linnean Society of London The Linnean Medal (formerly referred to as the Gold Medal) of the Linnean Society of London was established in 1888, and is awarded annually to alternately a botanist or a zoologist or (as has been common since 1958) to one of each in the same year. ... The Linnean Society of London is the worlds premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy. ...

Research work

Most of his scientific research was on the nervous system. He discovered the giant axon of the squid. His work in the 1920s on signal transmission in, and the fibre structure of, nerves inspired the work of Sir Andrew Huxley and Sir Alan Hodgkin for which they received a Nobel prize. Andrew Huxley at Trinity College, Cambridge, July 2005 Family tree Sir Andrew Fielding Huxley, OM, FRS (born 22 November 1917, Hampstead, London, England, UK) is a British physiologist and biophysicist, who won the 1963 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work with Alan Lloyd Hodgkin on the basis... Sir Alan Lloyd Hodgkin (February 5, 1914 _ December 20, 1998) was a British physiologist and biophysicist, who won the 1963 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work with Andrew Fielding Huxley on the basis of nerve action potentials, the electrical impulses that enable the activity of an... Sir Edward Appletons medal Photographs of Nobel Prize Medals. ...

During World War II, inspired by the large number of nerve injuries sustained by soldiers in combat and by his pioneering work in comparative anatomy and the regrowth of damaged nerves in squids and octopuses, Young set up a unit at the University of Oxford to study nerve regeneration in mammals. His wartime team, investigating the biochemical conditions which control nerve fibre growth, also sought ways to accelerate the repair of peripheral nerves severed by injury. Working with Peter Medawar, Young found a way to rejoin small peripheral nerves using a "glue" of plasma. This method was eventually modified and used in surgery. Combatants Allies: Soviet Union United Kingdom United States and others Axis Powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Franklin Roosevelt Joseph Stalin Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000,000 Total dead: 50,000,000 Military dead: 8,000... The University of Oxford (often called Oxford University), located in the city of Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... Sir Peter Brian Medawar (February 28, 1915 – October 2, 1987) was a Brazilian-born English scientist best known for his work on how the immune system rejects or accepts organ transplants. ...

After the war, Young's research interests turned to investigating the central nervous system and the functions of the brain. Continuing to experiment on squids, octopuses and other cephalopods, Young found that they could be trained to respond in specific ways to visual stimuli.

However, he is probably best remembered for his two textbooks, The Life of Vertebrates and The Life of Mammals.

He was an enthusiastic rambler, and carried on rambling almost until his death.

A memorial service was held for him in the Chapel of Magdalen College, Oxford on 9 November [1997]]. College name Magdalen College Named after Mary Magdalene Established 1458 Sister College Magdalene College President Professor David Clary FRS JCR President Iain Anstess Undergraduates 395 Graduates 230 Homepage Boatclub Magdalen College (pronounced ) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. ... November 9 is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 52 days remaining. ...

Publications

• The Life of Vertebrates, 1950, 3rd ed 1981
• Doubt and Certainty in Science, 1951
• The Life of Mammals, 1957
• A Model of the Brain, 1964
• The Memory System of the Brain, 1966
• An Introduction to the Study of Man, 1971
• The Anatomy of the Nervous System of Octopus vulgaris, 1971
• Programs of the Brain, 1978
• Philosophy and the Brain, 1987
• Many scientific papers, mostly on the nervous system.

Quote

'What would be the use of a neuroscience that cannot tell us anything about love?' (quoted in The Spectator, Apr 9, 2005; page 44) Cover of the Nov 12, 2005 issue of The Spectator magazine. ...

Notes

1. ^ The Guardian; Jul 14, 1997, p13

The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ...

References

• Who's Who (UK)
• Obituary referenced in the Notes section
• Obituary, The Times; July 9, 1997; p. 21
• Obituary, The Independent; Jul 8, 1997; p. 14