J. William Schopf
University of California, Los Angeles
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Primary Section: 27, Evolutionary Biology Secondary Section: 15, Geology Membership Type:
Member
(elected 1998)
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Research Interests
My general areas of research are evolutionary biology, organic geochemistry, biochemical evolution, paleobotany and palynology, microbiology and phycology, historical geology, lunar studies, and comparative planetology. Specifically, I am interested in Precambrian paleobiology, which includes geologic aspects of the origin of life; antiquity and Precambrian evolution of living systems; interrelationships of atmospheric, lithospheric, biologic, and biochemical evolution; organic geochemistry of Precambrian sediments; micropaleontology of Precambrian stromatolites, cherts, and shales; and the relevance of stromatolites, phytoplankton, and ancient microbiotas to problems of Precambrian biodiversity and biostratigraphy.
