Richard H. Thomas | Zoology Program | SIU

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Southern Illinois University

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College of Agriculture, Life and Physical Sciences

Richard H. Thomas

Associate Professor Emeritus

thomas

I am interested in the evolution of genetic systems and in the evolution and maintenance of sexual reproduction. We are characterizing 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.

Education

Ph.D., University of Arizona

Courses taught

Speciation, Evolution

Areas of interest

Molecular genetics, Molecular evolution

Selected 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.