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Daniel G. Blackburn
Thomas S. Johnson Distinguished Professor of Biology
Department of Biology
Life Sciences Center                              Office: 860.297.2231
Trinity College                                       Fax: 860.297.2538
Hartford, Connecticut 06106  USA           email: daniel.blackburn at trincoll dot edu

 

Education

Academic Appointments

  • Thomas S. Johnson Distinguished Professor — Trinity College (2007- present)
  • Professor of Biology — Trinity College (1998- present); Associate Professor (1992); Assistant Professor (1988)
  • Research Associate — Dept. of Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
  • Lecturer — Dept. of Physiology, Cornell University

Teaching Interests

  • Vertebrate zoology; Histophysiology; Electron microscopy;  Evolutionary thought

Research Interests

  • Functional morphology of placentas in viviparous reptiles
  • Fetal membrane morphology and development in reptiles
  • Evolution of vertebrate viviparity
  • History of evolutionary thought
  • History and demise of concepts of biological “race”

Recent Publications

  • Blackburn, D.G., K.E. Anderson, K.W. Aronson, M.K. Burket, J.F. Chin, S.K. San-Francisco, and I.P. Callard. (2017a). Placentation in watersnakes I: Placental histology and development in North American Nerodia (Colubridae: Natricinae). Journal of Morphology 278: 665-674.
  • Blackburn, D.G., K.E. Anderson, A.R. Lo, E.C. Marquez, and I.P. Callard (2017b). Placentation in watersnakes. II. Placental ultrastructure in Nerodia erythrogaster (Colubridae: Natricinae). Journal of Morphology 278: 675-688.
  • Powers, K.G. and D.G. Blackburn (2017c). Morphological specializations of the yolk sac for yolk processing in embryonic corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus: Colubridae). Journal of Morphology 278: 768-779.
  • Powers, K.G. and D.G. Blackburn (2017d). A novel pattern of yolk processing in developing snake eggs (Colubridae: Lampropeltini) and its functional and evolutionary implications. Journal of Experimental Zoology B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution 328B: 462-475.
  • Blackburn D.G., L. Paulesu, A.M. Avanzati, and M. Roth (2017e). History of reptile placentology, Part III: Giacomini’s 1891 histological monograph on lizard placentation. Placenta 60: 93-99.
  • Blackburn, D.G. and A. Arsov (2016a).  Somerset Maugham’s apocryphal self-description: setting the record straight.  English Literature in Transition, 1880-1920 59:139-152.
  • Blackburn, D.G. (2016b). History of reptile placentology. Part II. Wilhelm Haacke’s 1885 account of lizard viviparity. Zoologischer Anzeiger 261: 66-69.
  • Kim, Y.K. and D.G. Blackburn (2016c).  Fetal membrane ultrastructure and development in the oviparous milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum (Colubridae), with reference to function and evolution in snakes. Journal of Experimental Zoology B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution 326: 290-302.
  • Blackburn, D.G.  (2015a). Evolution of vertebrate viviparity and specializations for fetal nutrition: a quantitative and qualitative analysis.  Journal of Morphology (in press).  88 pp.  DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20272
  • Blackburn, D.G. (2015b). Viviparous placentotrophy in reptiles and the parent – offspring conflict.  Journal of Experimental Zoology B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution 324: 532-548.
  • Blackburn, D.G. (2015c). Evolution of viviparity in squamate reptiles: reversibility reconsidered. Journal of Experimental Zoology B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution 324: 473-486.
  • Blackburn, D.G. and J.M. Starck. (2015d). Morphological specializations for fetal maintenance in viviparous vertebrates: an introduction and historical retrospective.  Journal of Morphology 276: 961–990.
  • Stewart, J.R. and D.G. Blackburn (2015e).  Viviparity and placentation in lizards. Pp 448-563 in Reproductive Biology and Phylogeny of Lizards. CRC Press.
  • Griffith, O.W., D.G. Blackburn, M.C. Brandley, J.U. Van Dyke, C.M. Whittington, and M.B. Thompson. (2015f). Ancestral state reconstructions require biological evidence to test evolutionary hypotheses: a case study examining the evolution of reproductive mode in squamate reptiles.  Journal of Experimental Zoology B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution 324: 493-503.
  • Blackburn D.G., A.M. Avanzati, and L. Paulesu (2015g).  Classics revisited. History of reptile placentology: Cesare Studiati’s 1855 description of placentation in a viviparous lizard. Placenta 36: 1207-1211.
  • Kim, Y.K. and D.G. Blackburn (2015h).  Ultrastructure of the fetal membranes of the oviparous kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula (Colubridae) as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. Journal of Morphology 276: 1467-1481.
  • Starck, J.M. and D.G. Blackburn (editors) (2015i). Fetal Nutritional Adaptations. Special issue of the Journal of Morphology.