John H. Gillespie
John H. Gillespie is an evolutionary biologist interested in theoretical population genetics and molecular evolution. In molecular evolution, he emphasized the importance of advantageous mutations and balancing selection. For that reason, Gillespie is well known for his selectionist stance in the neutralist-selectionist debate. He is widely considered the main proponent of natural selection in molecular evolution. He had a well-known feud with the father of the neutral theory of molecular evolution, Motoo Kimura, initiated by a review in Science of Kimura's book in which Gillespie criticized Kimura for "using the book as a vehicle to establish for himself a niche in the history of science." Gillespie had only four PhD students during his career, Richard Hudson, James N. McNair, David Cutler, and Andrew Kern. Gillespie was a professor in the College of Biological Sciences[1] at the University of California, Davis until his retirement in 2005.
References
- Blum, D. (1992). "Scientists in Open War over "Neutral Theory" of Genetics". Sacramento Bee, March 16, p.A1.
- Gillespie, J.H. (1984). "The Status of the Neutral Theory". Science. 224 (4650): 732–733. doi:10.1126/science.224.4650.732. JSTOR 1692840. PMID 17780612.
- Gillespie, J.H. (1994). The Causes of Molecular Evolution. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509271-6.
- Gillespie, J.H. (2004). Population Genetics : A Concise Guide. The Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-8009-2.