Juergen Heinze is a professor at Biologie I, Universität Regensburg, Germany. As a specialist is in evolutionary biology and zoology, Prof. Heinze investigates the evolution of group structures and reproductive tactics in social insects. He and his team showed that societies of ants are often not harmonious super organisms, in which all cooperate to increase the fitness of the society as a whole. Instead, societies appear to be structured by complex networks of mutual manipulation and policing. Individuals attempt to pursue their own interests at the cost of others, which leads to aggression and punishment. The seemingly smooth functioning of society relies on a well-balanced compromise between individual and group interests. Currently, their research is complemented by functional genomic analyses as well.