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Associate Professor Office: 355C Life Science II Phone: 618-453-7425 email: rthomas@zoology.siu.edu Education: Ph.D., University of Arizona Courses taught: Speciation, Evolution Areas of interest: Molecular genetics, Molecular evolution I am interested in the evolution of genetic systems and in the evolution and maintenance of sexual reproduction. We are characterising the genome of a species of a putatively asexual higher taxon of mites to better understand the factors maintaining sexual reproduction in the vast majority of metazoan lineages. I am also interested in the evolution of arthropod body form and particularly of chelicerate arthropods. We are using modern molecular techniques to study the development of mites and tardigrades. Recent Publications Webster LMI, Thomas RH, and McCormack GP. 2004. Molecular systematics of Acarus siro s. lat., a complex of stored food pests. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 32: 817-822. Tautz D, Arctander P, Minelli A, Thomas RH, and Vogler AP. 2003. A plea for DNA taxonomy. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 18:70-74. |
