Michael Majerus
Encyclopedia
Michael Eugene Nicolas Majerus (1954 – 27 January 2009) was a geneticist
and Professor of Ecology at Clare College, Cambridge
, an enthusiast who became a world authority in his field of evolutionary biology. He was widely noted for his work on moth
s and ladybirds and as an advocate of the science of evolution
. He was also an enthusiastic educator and the author of several books on insects, evolution and sexual reproduction.
The son of Fernand and Muriel Majerus, he took an early interest in lepidoptera
and ecological genetics
following the work of E.B. Ford
, whose book Moths (in the New Naturalist
series) he bought at the age of ten. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School
, Northwood, and graduated in botany and zoology from Royal Holloway College, London. Later he moved into studying ladybirds, an area which brought him widespread publicity as an expert in 2004 when the Harlequin ladybird came to Britain, causing a disaster for native species. This publicity led to the involvement of members of the public in the effective monitoring of the spread of the Harlequin. His work on the peppered moth
provided new support for the understanding of peppered moth evolution
.
His research work was largely focussed around insect
species, particularly the peppered moth
and ladybirds, but explored these from many different perspectives including melanism
, male killers, sexual selection
, sexually transmitted disease
s, animal colouration
, invasive species
, and biological pest control
.
He was the president of the Amateur Entomologists' Society
, a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, and a Life Fellow of the British Naturalists' Association
. He received a number of awards, including the Sir Peter Scott
Memorial Award in 2006, for his contributions to British Natural History
.
He died January 27, 2009 after an unexpected and brief struggle with aggressive mesothelioma
.
Geneticist
A geneticist is a biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a researcher or lecturer. Some geneticists perform experiments and analyze data to interpret the inheritance of skills. A geneticist is also a Consultant or...
and Professor of Ecology at Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
, an enthusiast who became a world authority in his field of evolutionary biology. He was widely noted for his work on moth
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
s and ladybirds and as an advocate of the science of 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...
. He was also an enthusiastic educator and the author of several books on insects, evolution and sexual reproduction.
The son of Fernand and Muriel Majerus, he took an early interest in lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
and ecological genetics
Ecological genetics
Ecological genetics is the study of genetics in natural populations.This contrasts with classical genetics, which works mostly on crosses between laboratory strains, and DNA sequence analysis, which studies genes at the molecular level....
following the work of E.B. Ford
E.B. Ford
Edmund Brisco "Henry" Ford FRS Hon. FRCP was a British ecological geneticist. He was a leader among those British biologists who investigated the role of natural selection in nature. As a schoolboy Ford became interested in lepidoptera, the group of insects which includes butterflies and moths...
, whose book Moths (in the New Naturalist
New Naturalist
The New Naturalist Library books are a series published by Collins in the United Kingdom, on a variety of natural history topics relevant to the British Isles...
series) he bought at the age of ten. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School
Merchant Taylors' School
There are three schools in England known as 'Merchant Taylors' School':*Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood, Founded 1561*Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby, Founded 1620*Merchant Taylors' Girls' School, Crosby, Founded 1888...
, Northwood, and graduated in botany and zoology from Royal Holloway College, London. Later he moved into studying ladybirds, an area which brought him widespread publicity as an expert in 2004 when the Harlequin ladybird came to Britain, causing a disaster for native species. This publicity led to the involvement of members of the public in the effective monitoring of the spread of the Harlequin. His work on the peppered moth
Peppered moth
The peppered moth is a temperate species of night-flying moth. Peppered moth evolution is often used by educators as an example of natural selection.- Distribution :...
provided new support for the understanding of peppered moth evolution
Peppered moth evolution
The evolution of the peppered moth over the last two hundred years has been studied in detail. Originally, the vast majority of peppered moths had light colouration, which effectively camouflaged them against the light-coloured trees and lichens which they rested upon...
.
His research work was largely focussed around insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
species, particularly the peppered moth
Peppered moth
The peppered moth is a temperate species of night-flying moth. Peppered moth evolution is often used by educators as an example of natural selection.- Distribution :...
and ladybirds, but explored these from many different perspectives including melanism
Melanism
Melanism is an undue development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages, and the opposite of albinism. It is also the medical term for black jaundice.The word is deduced from the , meaning black pigment....
, male killers, sexual selection
Sexual selection
Sexual selection, a concept introduced by Charles Darwin in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species, is a significant element of his theory of natural selection...
, sexually transmitted disease
Sexually transmitted disease
Sexually transmitted disease , also known as a sexually transmitted infection or venereal disease , is an illness that has a significant probability of transmission between humans by means of human sexual behavior, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex...
s, animal colouration
Animal colouration
Animal coloration is the general appearance of an animal resulting from the reflection or emission of light from its surfaces. The mechanisms for colour production in animals include pigments, chromatophores, structural coloration, and bioluminescence....
, invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
, and biological pest control
Biological pest control
Biological control of pests in agriculture is a method of controlling pests that relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms...
.
He was the president of the Amateur Entomologists' Society
Amateur Entomologists' Society
The Amateur Entomologists' Society is a UK organisation for people interested in insects.-History:Based in the UK, the Amateur Entomologists' Society was founded in 1935 as The Entomological Exchange and Correspondence Club, for the purpose of providing a forum through which amateur and young...
, a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, and a Life Fellow of the British Naturalists' Association
British Naturalists' Association
The British Naturalists' Association is one of the United Kingdom's oldest natural history organisations, originally founded in 1905 as The British Empire Naturalists' Association-Aims:...
. He received a number of awards, including the Sir Peter Scott
Peter Scott
Sir Peter Markham Scott, CH, CBE, DSC and Bar, MID, FRS, FZS, was a British ornithologist, conservationist, painter, naval officer and sportsman....
Memorial Award in 2006, for his contributions to British Natural History
Natural History
Natural history is the scientific study of plants or animals.Natural History may also refer to:In science and medicine:* Natural History , Naturalis Historia, a 1st-century work by Pliny the Elder...
.
He died January 27, 2009 after an unexpected and brief struggle with aggressive mesothelioma
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma, more precisely malignant mesothelioma, is a rare form of cancer that develops from the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs, the mesothelium...
.
External links
- The Peppered Moth: Decline of a Darwinian Disciple, a transcript of his lecture delivered to the British Humanist AssociationBritish Humanist AssociationThe British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism and represents "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs." The BHA is committed to secularism, human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and mutual respect...
on Darwin DayDarwin DayDarwin Day is a recently instituted celebration intended to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin on February 12, 1809. The day is used to highlight Darwin's contribution to science and to promote science in general.-History:...
2004. - The Peppered Moth: The Proof of Darwinian Evolution, a transcript of his lecture given at the European Society for Evolutionary BiologyEuropean Society for Evolutionary BiologyThe European Society for Evolutionary Biology was founded in 1987. It is publishing the Journal of Evolutionary Biology, organises meetings and biannually awards a John Maynard Smith Prize.As of 2007 its president is Isabelle Olivieri....
meeting on 23 August 2007. The accompanying powerpoint presentation is also available. - Tribute to Mike Majerus, University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
- Obituary, Times Higher Education