Johnjoe McFadden
Encyclopedia
Johnjoe McFadden is an Irish / British scientist, academic and writer. He is Professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Surrey
, United Kingdom
.
. He has joint British/Irish Nationality.
He obtained his BSc in Biochemistry University of London
in 1977
and his PhD at Imperial College London
in 1982. He went on to work on human genetic diseases and then infectious diseases, at
St Mary's Hospital Medical School, London (1982–84) and St George's Hospital Medical School, London (1984–88) and then at the University of Surrey in Guildford
, UK.
For more than a decade, McFadden has specialised in examining the genetics
of microbes such as the agents of tuberculosis
and meningitis
and invented a test for the diagnosis of meningitis.
He has published more than 100 articles in scientific journals on subjects as wide-ranging as bacterial genetics, tuberculosis, idiopathic diseases and computer modelling of evolution. He has contributed to more than a dozen books and has edited a book on the genetics of mycobacteria.
He produced a widely reported artificial life computer model which modelled evolution in organisms.
He has lectured extensively in the UK, Europe, the US and Japan and his work has been featured in radio, television and national newspaper articles particularly for the Guardian
. His present post, which he has held since 2001, is Professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Surrey.
Living in London, he is married and has one son.
. The book examines the role of quantum mechanics
in life, evolution
and consciousness
.
McFadden regularly writes articles for The Guardian
newspaper in the UK, on topics as varied as quantum mechanics, evolution and genetically modified crops
, and has reviewed books there. The Washington Post and Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung have also published articles written by him.
University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Life
He was born in Donegal, Ireland but raised in the UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He has joint British/Irish Nationality.
He obtained his BSc in Biochemistry University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
in 1977
and his PhD at Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
in 1982. He went on to work on human genetic diseases and then infectious diseases, at
St Mary's Hospital Medical School, London (1982–84) and St George's Hospital Medical School, London (1984–88) and then at the University of Surrey in Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
, UK.
For more than a decade, McFadden has specialised in examining the genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
of microbes such as the agents of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
and invented a test for the diagnosis of meningitis.
He has published more than 100 articles in scientific journals on subjects as wide-ranging as bacterial genetics, tuberculosis, idiopathic diseases and computer modelling of evolution. He has contributed to more than a dozen books and has edited a book on the genetics of mycobacteria.
He produced a widely reported artificial life computer model which modelled evolution in organisms.
He has lectured extensively in the UK, Europe, the US and Japan and his work has been featured in radio, television and national newspaper articles particularly for the Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
. His present post, which he has held since 2001, is Professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Surrey.
Living in London, he is married and has one son.
Writing
McFadden wrote the popular science book, Quantum Evolution on the concept of quantum evolutionQuantum evolution (alternative)
Quantum evolution is the hypothesis that quantum effects can bias the process of mutation towards adaptive genetic variation. It should not be confused with quantum evolution, a theory related to the modern evolutionary synthesis. The first publication on this subject, which appeared in a peer...
. The book examines the role of quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
in life, evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
and consciousness
Consciousness
Consciousness is a term that refers to the relationship between the mind and the world with which it interacts. It has been defined as: subjectivity, awareness, the ability to experience or to feel, wakefulness, having a sense of selfhood, and the executive control system of the mind...
.
McFadden regularly writes articles for The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper in the UK, on topics as varied as quantum mechanics, evolution and genetically modified crops
Genetically modified food
Genetically modified foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms . Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques...
, and has reviewed books there. The Washington Post and Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung have also published articles written by him.
External links
- Johnjoe McFadden's Homepage at Surrey University
- Johnjoe McFadden's Machines Like Us interview
- School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at University of Surrey Professor Johnjoe McFadden
- Curriculum Vitae
- Quantum Evolution - Explore the role of quantum mechanics in life, evolution and consciousness (includes excerpts from the book, Quantum Evolution)