John McCutcheon

Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
jmccutch@email.arizona.edu
Ph: (520) 784-1304
Fax: (520) 621-3709
Mailing address: P.O. Box 210088, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721-0088

• Curriculum Vitae (pdf)
• Publications

I am interested in how microbes interact among themselves and with eukaryotic organisms. The role of any given microbe in a multi-species relationship is ultimately directed by its genome sequence, and therefore my interests primarily lie in the study of microbial genomes. Prokaryotic genomes are typically compact and streamlined, and evolution works relatively quickly on their gene content. Therefore, the patterns of gene loss, gain, and mutation in a given microbial genome can afford a great deal of information about its role in an ecosystem.

I am currently working on sequencing the genomes of the bacterial symbionts from three xylem-feeding insects. All three of these insects host two bacterial symbionts, allowing some insight of the co-evolution of the bacteria among themselves as well as with their insect host.

I also have interests in the study of microbial diversity and in genomic technology development.