About
From 1998-2009 I worked primarily as an individual scientific researcher (“PI”) using computers to study the evolutionary origins of the central dogma of molecular biology. This work continues through a focus to explore alternatives to the “alphabet” of 20 amino acids with which genetic material evolved to encode proteins.
Since 2009 I have devoted more time to developing team-based academic projects and programs. In terms of research, this activity occurs around broad questions of astrobiology and abiogenesis. In terms of teaching and administration I work by leading UMBC’s Individualized Study program, INDS and by serving as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
Research interests
Abiogenesis: Evolutionary chemical informatics, specifically generating and analyzing amino acid structures beyond those known to biology.
Synthetic biology: Creating informatics tools to collate and analyze the mushrooming world of non-coded amino acids that experimentalists ("wet lab" researchers) have already incorporated into protein synthesis.
Broader active interests are the evolution of fundamental biochemistry, astrobiology, abiogenesis and biosignatures.
Teaching interests
INDS core courses: INDS330, INDS335, INDS399, INDS480, INDS490
BIOL770: Amino Acid Alphabet Evolution
Education
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Ph D, Genetics
— Cambridge University (1998) Natural Selection and the Genetic Code
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MS, Biological computation
— University of York (1993) Mathematical models of lynx/snowshoe hare population density cycles
- BA, Zoology — Oxford University (1991)
Publications
- What Would an Alien Amino Acid Alphabet Look Like and Why? 2023
- A broader context for understanding amino acid alphabet optimality 2021
- Extending CoNavigator into a Collaborative Digital Space 2020
- Rethinking Abiogenesis: Part 1, Continuity of Life through Time. 2020
- Adaptive properties of the genetically encoded amino acid alphabet are inherited from its subsets 2019
- Extraordinarily adaptive properties of the genetically encoded amino acids 2015
- Testing for adaptive signatures of amino acid alphabet evolution using chemistry space 2014
- Beyond terrestrial biology: Charting the chemical universe of $alpha$-amino acid structures 2013
- Unearthing the root of amino acid similarity 2013
- Did evolution select a nonrandom “alphabet” of amino acids? 2011
- “Terrestrial” amino acids and their evolution 2009
- A quantitative investigation of the chemical space surrounding amino acid alphabet formation 2008
- Could an intelligent alien predict earth’s biochemistry? 2008
- Fitness of the cosmos for life 2008
- On the evolution of the standard amino-acid alphabet 2006
- Simplified gene synthesis: a one-step approach to PCR-based gene construction 2006
- Testing the potential for computational chemistry to quantify biophysical properties of the non-proteinaceous amino acids 2006
- The standard genetic code enhances adaptive evolution of proteins 2006
- Adaptive evolution of the genetic code 2004
- Evolution encoded 2004
- The case for an error minimizing standard genetic code 2003
- Three fundamentals of the biological genetic algorithm 2003
- The Darwinian genetic code: an adaptation for adapting? 2002
- Rewiring the keyboard: evolvability of the genetic code 2001
- Do proteins predate DNA? 1999
- Selection, history and chemistry: the three faces of the genetic code 1999
- The genetic code is one in a million 1998
- Fitness compensation and the evolution of selfish cytoplasmic elements 1997