Biography, Sort of...
For twelve years now I’ve been afflicted with Drosophilia, which is both contagious and chronic.
My addiction in part stems from the fact that as a research organism, Drosophila is unparalleled. My colleagues agree with me, and that’s all that matters. If you come in contact with one of us long enough, you may find yourself conforming too.
My addiction in part stems from the fact that as a research organism, Drosophila is unparalleled. My colleagues agree with me, and that’s all that matters. If you come in contact with one of us long enough, you may find yourself conforming too.
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Much of my research so far has been focused on the evolution of aging and its end. Ironically, as I’ve found evidence for the cessation of aging in flies, while doing so I have aged myself. There are only so many fly heart dissections that can be done before worsening eyesight, only so much agonizing over failed experiments without permanent frown marks, and only so many hours of standing around in the lab without pain in the knees.
My new area of interest is immune defense. I'm hoping that as I understand what improves fly immune defense, my own immune defense will improve too.
My new area of interest is immune defense. I'm hoping that as I understand what improves fly immune defense, my own immune defense will improve too.
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I’m often asked how I became interested in biology. For this I have no fancy answer, and no chronology. I like observing insects and other animals, but from a distance and as long as they don’t touch me. I like eating random flowers and berries when I walk on the streets, but they occasionally make me sick. I like theories and theorizing, especially about evolution. But most of all, I enjoy discussing life, the universe and everything with other biologists.
Teaching also gives me considerable pleasure, particularly so when I can teach with an agenda. I’m not admitting that I do that, but hypothetically if I did, I would teach about responsible harvesting, minimizing global warming, the importance of stem cell research, and the lack of any imagined biological bases for some people’s views on gender and race. I like to discuss these topics with my students, and I often learn from their points of view and they learn from each other too.
Teaching also gives me considerable pleasure, particularly so when I can teach with an agenda. I’m not admitting that I do that, but hypothetically if I did, I would teach about responsible harvesting, minimizing global warming, the importance of stem cell research, and the lack of any imagined biological bases for some people’s views on gender and race. I like to discuss these topics with my students, and I often learn from their points of view and they learn from each other too.
