John Doebley
Encyclopedia
John F. Doebley is an American botanical geneticist
whose main area of interest is how gene
s drive plant development and evolution
. He has spent the last two decades examining the genetic differences and similarities between teosinte
and maize
and has cloned the major genes that cause the visible differences between these two very different plants.
John Doebley began his undergraduate education as a biology
major at West Chester State College in West Chester
, Pennsylvania
. However, after taking a class by a particularly interesting lecturer, he decided to switch his major to anthropology
.
After he graduated with a degree in anthropology in 1974, he entered a master's programme in anthropology at Eastern New Mexico University
in Portales
. Upon completion of this in 1976, he underwent a Ph.D programme at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. Here he was fortunate enough to become acquainted with a botany
professor, Hugh Iltis
. Together they travelled to Mexico
to find sites where Teostine grew. Doebley published 3 papers on this research for his doctoral thesis and completed his degree in 1980.
Doebley then held 2 postdoctoral positions successively in North Carolina State University
under the mentorship of Major Goodman and Ronald Sederoff.
In 1987, Doebley took up the position of professor at the University of Minnesota
, St. Paul. It was here that Doebley and his colleagues discovered that most trait differences between teostine and maize were under multigenic control. From here they focused on pinpointing and cloning one of the principal genes involved in the evolution of maize, known as teostine branched1, or tb1 and how this gene operated to produce more branches in teostine and fewer branches in maize.
In 1999, Doebly returned to the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a professor. There he has continued his work on teostine and maize.
Doebley’s work has earned him widespread recognition in the field of complex trait genetics, and he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
in 2002.
Geneticist
A geneticist is a biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a researcher or lecturer. Some geneticists perform experiments and analyze data to interpret the inheritance of skills. A geneticist is also a Consultant or...
whose main area of interest is how gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
s drive plant development and evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
. He has spent the last two decades examining the genetic differences and similarities between teosinte
Teosinte
Zea is a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae. Several species are commonly known as teosintes and are found in Mexico, Guatemala, and Nicaragua....
and maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
and has cloned the major genes that cause the visible differences between these two very different plants.
John Doebley began his undergraduate education as a biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
major at West Chester State College in West Chester
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. However, after taking a class by a particularly interesting lecturer, he decided to switch his major to anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
.
After he graduated with a degree in anthropology in 1974, he entered a master's programme in anthropology at Eastern New Mexico University
Eastern New Mexico University
Eastern New Mexico University , frequently called Eastern, is a state university in Portales, Roosevelt County, New Mexico, USA...
in Portales
Portales
-Places:* Portales, New Mexico, a city from the United States* Portales Forest Reserve, in New Mexico-Organizations:* Diego Portales University, a Chilean University* Metro Portales, a Mexican station of metro...
. Upon completion of this in 1976, he underwent a Ph.D programme at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. Here he was fortunate enough to become acquainted with a botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
professor, Hugh Iltis
Hugh Iltis
Hugh Hellmut Iltis is Professor Emeritus of Botany at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and is best known for his discoveries in the domestication of corn ....
. Together they travelled to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to find sites where Teostine grew. Doebley published 3 papers on this research for his doctoral thesis and completed his degree in 1980.
Doebley then held 2 postdoctoral positions successively in North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
under the mentorship of Major Goodman and Ronald Sederoff.
In 1987, Doebley took up the position of professor at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, St. Paul. It was here that Doebley and his colleagues discovered that most trait differences between teostine and maize were under multigenic control. From here they focused on pinpointing and cloning one of the principal genes involved in the evolution of maize, known as teostine branched1, or tb1 and how this gene operated to produce more branches in teostine and fewer branches in maize.
In 1999, Doebly returned to the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a professor. There he has continued his work on teostine and maize.
Doebley’s work has earned him widespread recognition in the field of complex trait genetics, and he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 2002.
External links
- Biography of John Doebley on site of National Academy of Sciences -- with photographs