Masatoshi Nei
Masatoshi Nei | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 2, 1931 |
| Nationality | Japanese American |
| Alma mater | Kyushu University |
| Known for | Nei's genetic distance, Neutral theory of molecular evolution |
| Awards | International Prize for Biology (2002) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Evolutionary biology, Population genetics |
| Institutions | Pennsylvania State University |
Masatoshi Nei (born January 2, 1931) is a prominent Japanese American evolutionary biologist and population geneticist. He is best known for his pioneering work in the field of molecular evolution and for developing Nei's genetic distance, a measure of genetic divergence between populations.
Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]
Masatoshi Nei was born in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. He completed his undergraduate studies at Kyushu University, where he also earned his Ph.D. in genetics.
Career[edit | edit source]
Nei began his academic career in Japan before moving to the United States in the 1960s. He held various academic positions and eventually joined the faculty at Pennsylvania State University, where he made significant contributions to the field of evolutionary biology.
Contributions to Science[edit | edit source]
Nei is renowned for his work on Nei's genetic distance, a statistical measure used to estimate the genetic divergence between populations. This measure has been widely used in the study of population genetics and phylogenetics.
He is also known for his contributions to the neutral theory of molecular evolution, which posits that most evolutionary changes at the molecular level are the result of random genetic drift rather than natural selection. This theory has had a profound impact on the study of molecular evolution.
Awards and Honors[edit | edit source]
In recognition of his contributions to science, Nei has received numerous awards, including the prestigious International Prize for Biology in 2002.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
- Evolutionary biology
- Population genetics
- Molecular evolution
- Neutral theory of molecular evolution
- Nei's genetic distance
- Pennsylvania State University
- International Prize for Biology
See Also[edit | edit source]
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