George E. Fox

Professor George Edward Fox (born December 17, 1945) is a researcher at The University of Houston. Co-discoverer of Archaea, the third domain of life and the concept of a progenote as a primordial entity, with Carl Woese in the early 1970s. While with Woese, he pioneered use of comparative analysis in prediction of RNA secondary structure. Using comparative analysis, he also recognized the limitations that RNA sequences could provide when identifying closely related species. His research centers around understanding the early evolution of life. He contends that one of the earliest components of the genetic machinery to appear in a form bearing resemblance to its modern equivalent was the ribosome. His research is actively involved in the search for biosignatures on Mars.

Fox received his Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University in 1967, and completed his Ph.D. at Syracuse University in 1974. Both degrees were in chemical engineering. From 1973-1977, he was a research associate with Carl R. Woese at the University of Illinois. He became an assistant professor of biochemical & Biophysical Sciences at University of Houston in 1977; he became a full professor there in 1986.

Fox is a Gold Life Master with the ACBL and has been a member of the USCF for over 50 years.

Awards

* John & Rebecca Moores Professorship, 2006-2011
* Elected Fellow, American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, 2002
* Elected Fellow- American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1995
* Elected Fellow- American Academy of Microbiology, 1994

References

# Woese C, Magrum L, Fox G (1978). "Archaebacteria.". J Mol Evol 11 (3): 245-51. PMID 691075.
# Woese C, Fox G (1977). "Phylogenetic structure of the prokaryotic domain: the primary kingdoms.". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 74 (11): 5088-90. PMID 270744.
# Fox G, Woese C (1975). "5S rRNA Secondary Structure." Nature 256 : 505‑507.
# Fox G, Wisotzkey J, Jurtshuk P (1992) "How close is close:16S rRNA sequence identity may not be sufficient to guarantee species identity." Int J Syst Bacteriol 42: 166-160.

External links

* [http://prion.bchs.uh.edu/1/pi.html Fox webpage] at University of Houston website. Retrieved Oct. 31, 2007.