John C. DeFries
Encyclopedia
John C. DeFries is one of the world's leading behavior geneticists
. His achievements include being President of the Behavior Genetics Association
(1982–1983) and cofounder of the journal Behavior Genetics
, as well as its co-editor (1970–1978). His awards include The Dobzhansky Award for Outstanding Research in Behavior Genetics (Behavior Genetics Association
, 1992), Consulting Editor of the Journal of Learning Disabilities
(1987–2002), Fellowships in the International Academy for Research in Learning Disabilities, Association for Psychological Science
, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
, Section J (Psychology).
His contributions include major twin
and adoption studies of cognitive abilities, genetics of learning disabilities, and, when molecular tools became available, pioneering the use of DNA markers to locate genes that influence behavioral characters.
He established the world's first large twin study of dyslexia at the Institute for Behavior Genetics in Boulder, and supervised over 17 PhD students.
Among his works are a standard text on behavior genetics and original work on behavior-genetic methodology, some of it in collaboration with David Fulker
.
DeFries' articles have been cited over 8000 times and he has an h-index
of 48.
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...
. His achievements include being 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 :...
(1982–1983) and cofounder of the journal 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...
, as well as its co-editor (1970–1978). His awards include The Dobzhansky Award for Outstanding Research in Behavior Genetics (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 :...
, 1992), Consulting Editor of the Journal of Learning Disabilities
Journal of Learning Disabilities
Journal of Learning Disabilities is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes papers in the field of Education. The journal's editor is H. Lee Swanson...
(1987–2002), Fellowships in the International Academy for Research in Learning Disabilities, Association for Psychological Science
Association for Psychological Science
The Association for Psychological Science , previously the American Psychological Society, is a non-profit international organization whose mission is to promote, protect, and advance the interests of scientifically oriented psychology in research, application, teaching, and the improvement of...
, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
, Section J (Psychology).
His contributions include major twin
Twin study
Twin studies help disentangle the relative importance of environmental and genetic influences on individual traits and behaviors. Twin research is considered a key tool in behavioral genetics and related fields...
and adoption studies of cognitive abilities, genetics of learning disabilities, and, when molecular tools became available, pioneering the use of DNA markers to locate genes that influence behavioral characters.
He established the world's first large twin study of dyslexia at the Institute for Behavior Genetics in Boulder, and supervised over 17 PhD students.
Among his works are a standard text on behavior genetics and original work on behavior-genetic methodology, some of it in collaboration with David Fulker
David 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...
.
DeFries' articles have been cited over 8000 times and he has an h-index
H-index
The h-index is an index that attempts to measure both the productivity and impact of the published work of a scientist or scholar. The index is based on the set of the scientist's most cited papers and the number of citations that they have received in other publications...
of 48.
Selected books
- Behavioral Genetics in the Postgenomic Era, by Robert PlominRobert PlominRobert Plomin is an American psychologist best known for his work in twin studies and behavior genetics. Plomin has made two of the most important discoveries in that field. First, he has shown the importance of non-shared environment, a term that he coined to refer to the environmental reasons...
, John C. DeFries, Ian W. Craig, and Peter McGuffin - Behavioral Genetics by Robert PlominRobert PlominRobert Plomin is an American psychologist best known for his work in twin studies and behavior genetics. Plomin has made two of the most important discoveries in that field. First, he has shown the importance of non-shared environment, a term that he coined to refer to the environmental reasons...
, John C. DeFries, Gerald E. McClearn and Peter McGuffinPeter McGuffinPeter McGuffin is a psychiatric geneticist from Belfast, Northern Ireland.After emigrating with his parents at aged 10 to the Isle of Wight, he first decided that he wanted to be a psychiatrist at the age of 16 after coming across Freud’s Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis, in a local public...
.