Researcher Summary
Research interests include the genetics and molecular biology of single-celled bacteria, phage and some eukaryotic microorganisms, horizontal gene transfer, particularly conjugation, effects of stress, particularly induced by antibiotics and agrochemicals, evolution and risk assessment, influence of language on science and eugenics. Specific interests are the biochemical and genetic characterization of horizontal gene transfer (particularly as it relates to the evolution of virulence and antibiotic resistance in microbes and the risks of genetically modified/engineered organisms) and yeast, bacteria and the test of evolutionary theories.