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Lynn Margulis (1938–2011)
BioSystems 107 (2012) 65
Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect
BioSystems journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/biosystems
Editorial
Lynn Margulis (1938–2011)
BioSystems lost a colleague on November 22, 2011 when Lynn Margulis passed away following a stroke. Together with Professor Alan Schwartz (co-managing editor from 1975 to 1999), Professor Sidney Fox (consulting editor 1976–1993), and Professor Michael Conrad, who served BioSystems for 25 years in various capacities from 1975 through 2000, Professor Margulis was this journal’s associate managing editor from 1984 to 1993 and was on the editorial board from 1977 (Schwartz, 1984). Lynn not only helped to manage the journal but also published frequently within its pages on themes in evolutionary biology, microbiology, symbiosis, and theoretical systems approaches to all levels of biology that broadened the journal’s scope as well as our own understanding. It is out of respect for her previous association with BioSystems and to her passion for scientific discovery that we dedicate this volume of BioSystems in her memory. Lynn published a total of 23 papers in BioSystems. Some of her earliest publications included work with James Lovelock on the Gaia hypothesis, suggesting that Earth and its atmosphere constituted a self-regulating system (Watson et al., 1978). While remaining controversial, these early efforts on Gaia were highly cited and led to significant discussion in the community. (They also helped show the community that Lynn was not one to stray from controversy.) Her early work also focused on the evolution of oldworld monkeys and apes, using the karyotypes of these organisms and their change over time to decipher their history (Giusto and Margulis, 1981). This well-cited contribution was an early effort to use genomic data for phylogenetic inference. Together with Robert Whittaker, she helped decipher the complex evolution of the protists as part of a broader approach to reclassify all organisms based on modern biology rather than “standard” Linnean classification (Whittaker and Margulis, 1978). Her thoughts on the origin of biological kingdoms suggested the classification of organisms into two main kingdoms (plants and animals) and also shortly thereafter focused on symbiosis as central exchange at the base of the eukarya (Margulis, 1992). Throughout her career, Lynn noted flaws in the NeoDarwinian paradigm relative to events at the molecular level such as symbiosis that could assist in speciation. She also recognized the faults of phylogenetics as a whole, with its strong
0303-2647/$ – see front matter © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. doi:10.1016/j.biosystems.2011.12.003
emphasis on extinction or speciation without consideration of symbiosis or anastomosis. Modern trees of life that reflect the massive amounts of horizontal gene transfer and symbiosis we now understand to be the case in the prokaryotes and early eukaryotes were envisioned by Lynn decades previously. Her final editorial opportunity with BioSystems was a special issue, “From Gaia to Microcosm,” which contained 18 papers on a very diverse set of topics from horizontal gene and genome transfer to symbiogenesis, viruses and extinction, and terrestrial colonization, all with the theme of life and its evolution. As this was her self-designated “swansong” with the journal, the papers were reflective of her diverse interests, “which means they are of a concern beyond any narrowly conceived field of science” (Margulis, 1993). Lynn was a brilliant and tireless scientist who stayed true to her own beliefs and the scientific data, despite what the prevailing scientific opinion may have been at the time. We hope that this dedication helps preserve the belief that new ideas in science, while not always popular when they first arise, require tenacity and dedication, in addition to fundamental results, and a medium such as BioSystems through which researchers can interact with the scientific community. We will miss Lynn’s enthusiasm for science and her dedication over the years to make sure BioSystems remains as an open forum for publication. References Giusto, J.P., Margulis, L., 1981. Karyotypic fission theory and the evolution of old world monkeys and apes. BioSystems 13, 267–302. Margulis, L., 1992. Biodiversity: molecular biological domains, symbiosis, and kingdom origins. BioSystems 27, 39–51. Margulis, L., 1993. From Gaia to Microcosm. BioSystems 31, 83. Schwartz, A.W., 1984. Editorial announcement. BioSystems 17, 1. Watson, A., Lovelock, J.E., Margulis, L., 1978. Methanogenesis, fires, and the regulation of atmospheric oxygen. BioSystems 10, 293–298. Whittaker, R.H, Margulis, L., 1978. Protist classification and the kingdoms of organisms. BioSystems 10, 3–18.
Gary B. Fogel, Editor-in-Chief Alan W. Schwartz, Former Editor-in-Chief
Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect
BioSystems journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/biosystems
Editorial
Lynn Margulis (1938–2011)
BioSystems lost a colleague on November 22, 2011 when Lynn Margulis passed away following a stroke. Together with Professor Alan Schwartz (co-managing editor from 1975 to 1999), Professor Sidney Fox (consulting editor 1976–1993), and Professor Michael Conrad, who served BioSystems for 25 years in various capacities from 1975 through 2000, Professor Margulis was this journal’s associate managing editor from 1984 to 1993 and was on the editorial board from 1977 (Schwartz, 1984). Lynn not only helped to manage the journal but also published frequently within its pages on themes in evolutionary biology, microbiology, symbiosis, and theoretical systems approaches to all levels of biology that broadened the journal’s scope as well as our own understanding. It is out of respect for her previous association with BioSystems and to her passion for scientific discovery that we dedicate this volume of BioSystems in her memory. Lynn published a total of 23 papers in BioSystems. Some of her earliest publications included work with James Lovelock on the Gaia hypothesis, suggesting that Earth and its atmosphere constituted a self-regulating system (Watson et al., 1978). While remaining controversial, these early efforts on Gaia were highly cited and led to significant discussion in the community. (They also helped show the community that Lynn was not one to stray from controversy.) Her early work also focused on the evolution of oldworld monkeys and apes, using the karyotypes of these organisms and their change over time to decipher their history (Giusto and Margulis, 1981). This well-cited contribution was an early effort to use genomic data for phylogenetic inference. Together with Robert Whittaker, she helped decipher the complex evolution of the protists as part of a broader approach to reclassify all organisms based on modern biology rather than “standard” Linnean classification (Whittaker and Margulis, 1978). Her thoughts on the origin of biological kingdoms suggested the classification of organisms into two main kingdoms (plants and animals) and also shortly thereafter focused on symbiosis as central exchange at the base of the eukarya (Margulis, 1992). Throughout her career, Lynn noted flaws in the NeoDarwinian paradigm relative to events at the molecular level such as symbiosis that could assist in speciation. She also recognized the faults of phylogenetics as a whole, with its strong
0303-2647/$ – see front matter © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. doi:10.1016/j.biosystems.2011.12.003
emphasis on extinction or speciation without consideration of symbiosis or anastomosis. Modern trees of life that reflect the massive amounts of horizontal gene transfer and symbiosis we now understand to be the case in the prokaryotes and early eukaryotes were envisioned by Lynn decades previously. Her final editorial opportunity with BioSystems was a special issue, “From Gaia to Microcosm,” which contained 18 papers on a very diverse set of topics from horizontal gene and genome transfer to symbiogenesis, viruses and extinction, and terrestrial colonization, all with the theme of life and its evolution. As this was her self-designated “swansong” with the journal, the papers were reflective of her diverse interests, “which means they are of a concern beyond any narrowly conceived field of science” (Margulis, 1993). Lynn was a brilliant and tireless scientist who stayed true to her own beliefs and the scientific data, despite what the prevailing scientific opinion may have been at the time. We hope that this dedication helps preserve the belief that new ideas in science, while not always popular when they first arise, require tenacity and dedication, in addition to fundamental results, and a medium such as BioSystems through which researchers can interact with the scientific community. We will miss Lynn’s enthusiasm for science and her dedication over the years to make sure BioSystems remains as an open forum for publication. References Giusto, J.P., Margulis, L., 1981. Karyotypic fission theory and the evolution of old world monkeys and apes. BioSystems 13, 267–302. Margulis, L., 1992. Biodiversity: molecular biological domains, symbiosis, and kingdom origins. BioSystems 27, 39–51. Margulis, L., 1993. From Gaia to Microcosm. BioSystems 31, 83. Schwartz, A.W., 1984. Editorial announcement. BioSystems 17, 1. Watson, A., Lovelock, J.E., Margulis, L., 1978. Methanogenesis, fires, and the regulation of atmospheric oxygen. BioSystems 10, 293–298. Whittaker, R.H, Margulis, L., 1978. Protist classification and the kingdoms of organisms. BioSystems 10, 3–18.
Gary B. Fogel, Editor-in-Chief Alan W. Schwartz, Former Editor-in-Chief