Genetics Paperback – 30 December 2011

D. Peter Snustad is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Minnesota and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, Davis. He began his faculty career in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at Minnesota in 1965, became a charter member of the new Department of Genetics in 1966, and moved to the Department of Plant Biology in 2000. During his 43 years at Minnesota, he taught courses ranging from general biology to biochemical genetics. His initial research focused on the interactions between bacteriophage T4 and its host, E. coli. In the 1980s, his research switched to the cytoskeleton of Arabidopsis and the glutamine synthetase genes of corn. His honors include the Morse–Amoco and Dagley Memorial teaching awards and election to Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. A lifelong love of the Canadian wilderness has kept him in nearby Minnesota.

Michael J. Simmons is a Professor in the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He received his B.A. degree in biology from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in genetics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Dr. Simmons has taught a variety of courses, including genetics and population genetics. He has also mentored many students on research projects in his laboratory. Early in his career he received the Morse–Amoco teaching award from the University of Minnesota in recognition of his contributions to undergraduate education. Dr. Simmons s research focuses on the genetic significance of transposable elements in the genome of Drosophila melanogaster. He has served on advisory committees at the National Institutes of Health and was a member of the Editorial Board of the journal Genetics for 21 years. One of his favorite activities, figure skating, is especially compatible with the Minnesota climate.