Academic Profile
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Education:
2002 Duke University - Ph.D.
(Zoology)
1996 University of Cambridge - M.Phil. (Genetics)
1995 Cornell University - B.A. (Honors Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)
Research Interests:
My research interests focus on the evolution of developmental mechanisms. My laboratory studies the genetic and developmental basis of phenotypic variation, primarily using colour pattern formation in butterflies and moths as a model system. We employ a variety of approaches in our experiments including genomics, molecular phylogenetics, transgenics, immunohistochemistry, and computational biology.

External Research Profiles:

Selected Publications:
Marcus, J. M. 2019. Evo-Devo of Butterfly Wing Patterns. In Laura Nuno de la Rosa and Gerd B. Muller, eds. Evolutionary Developmental Biology-A Reference Guide. Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-33038-9_174-1 Link
Lalonde, M. M. L. and J. M. Marcus. 2019. Getting Western: Biogeographical analysis of morphological variation, mitochondrial haplotypes, and nuclear markers reveals cryptic species and hybrid zones in the Junonia butterflies of the American Southwest and Mexico. Systematic Entomology 44(3): 465-489. doi: 10.1111/syen.12335 Link
Lalonde M. M. L. and J. M. Marcus. 2019. Entomological Time Travel: Reconstructing the Invasion History of the Buckeye Butterflies (genus Junonia) from Florida, USA. Biological Invasions 21(6), 1947-1972. doi: 10.1007/s10530-019-01948-4 Link
Abbasi, R. and J. M. Marcus. 2019. Reply to 'A refutation to 'A new A-P compartment boundary and organizer in holometabolous insect wings'. Scientific Reports 9: 7048. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-42679-9 Link
Al Khateeb, W. M., Sher, A. A., Marcus, J. M., and Schroeder, D. F. 2019. UVSSA, UBP12, and RDO2/TFIIS contribute to Arabidopsis UV tolerance. Frontiers in Plant Science. 10: 516. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00516 Link
Living Prairie Mitogenomics Consortium (38 undergraduate co-authors) and J. M. Marcus. 2019. The complete mitochondrial genome of the North American pale summer sedge caddisfly Limnephilus hyalinus (Insecta: Trichoptera: Limnephilidae). Mitochondrial DNA Part B: Resources. 4(1): 413-415. doi: 10.1080/23802359.2018.1547158 Link
Lalonde M. M. L.? and J. M. Marcus. 2019. The complete mitochondrial genome of the Madagascar banded commodore butterfly Precis andremiaja (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Mitochondrial DNA Part B: Resources 4(1): 277-279. doi: 10.1080/23802359.2018.1541721 Link
Lalonde M. M. L.? and J. M. Marcus. 2019. The complete mitochondrial genome of the Madagascar mother-of-pearl butterfly Salamis anteva (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Mitochondrial DNA Part B: Resources 4(1): 296-298. doi: 10.1080/23802359.2018.1542989 Link
Marquardt, J. R. and J. M. Marcus. 2018. Molecular tools for understanding the population genetic effects of habitat restoration on butterflies. Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 72(4): 253-264. doi: 10.18473/lepi.72i4.a2 Link
Lahari, T., J. Lazaro, J.M. Marcus, and D. F. Schroeder. 2018. RAD7 homologues contribute to Arabidopsis UV tolerance. Plant Science 277: 267-277. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.09.017. Link
Lalonde, M.M.L., B.S. McCullagh, and J. M. Marcus. 2018. The taxonomy and population structure of the buckeye butterflies (genus Junonia, Nymphalidae: Nymphalini) of Florida, USA. Journal of the Lepidopterists Society 72 (2): 97-115. doi: 10.18473/lepi.v72i2.a2 Link
Living Prairie Mitogenomics Consortium (40 undergraduate co-authors) and J. M. Marcus. 2018. The complete mitochondrial genome of the giant casemaker caddisfly Phryganea cinerea (Insecta: Trichoptera: Phryganeidae). Mitochondrial DNA Part B: Resources. 3 (1): 375-377. doi: 10.1080/23802359.2018.1450686 Link
Marcus, J. M. 2018. Our love-hate relationship with DNA barcodes, the Y2K problem, and the search for next generation barcodes. AIMS Genetics 5 (1): 1-23. doi:10.3934/genet.2018.1.1 Link
Abbasi, R. and J. M. Marcus. 2017. A new A-P compartment boundary and organizer in holometabolous insect wings. Scientific Reports 7: 16337. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-16553-5 Link
Lalonde M. M. L. and J. M. Marcus. 2017. The complete mitochondrial genome of the long-horned caddisfly Triaenodes tardus (Insecta: Trichoptera: Leptoceridae). Mitochondrial DNA Part B: Resources 2 (2) 765-767. doi: 10.1080/23802359.2017.1398619 Link
Peirson, D.S.J. and J. M. Marcus. 2017. The complete mitochondrial genome of the North American caddisfly Anabolia bimaculata (Insecta: Trichoptera: Limnephilidae). Mitochondrial DNA Part B: Resources. 2 (2): 595-597. doi: 10.1080/23802359.2017.1372728 Link
Living Prairie Mitogenomics Consortium (33 undergraduate co-authors) and J. M. Marcus. 2017. The complete mitochondrial genome of the lesser aspen webworm moth Meroptera pravella (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Mitochondrial DNA Part B: Resources. 2 (1): 344-346. doi:10.1080/23802359.2017.1334525. Link
Peters, M. J. and Marcus, J.M. 2017. Taxonomy as a hypothesis: testing the status of the Bermuda buckeye butterfly Junonia coenia bergi (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Systematic Entomology. 42 (1):288-300. doi: 10.1111/syen.12214 Link
Peters, M. J. and Marcus, J.M. 2016. The complete mitochondrial genome of the Bermuda buckeye butterfly Junonia coenia bergi (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Mitochondrial DNA Part B: Resources. 1 (1): 739-741, doi: 10.1080/23802359.2016.1159929 Link
McCullagh, B. S., S.A. Wissinger, and J. M. Marcus. 2015. Identifying PCR primers to facilitate molecular phylogenetics in Caddisflies (order Trichoptera). Zoological Systematics. 40 (4): 459-469 doi: 10.11865/zs.20150 Link
Abbasi, R. and J. M. Marcus. 2015. Color pattern homology and evolution in Vanessa butterflies (Nymphalidae: Nymphalini): Eyespot characters. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 28: 2009-2026. doi: 10.1111/jeb.12716 Link
McCullagh, B. S. and J. M. Marcus. 2015. The complete mitochondrional genome of Lemon Pansy, Junonia lemonias (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Nymphalinae. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 18: 749-755. doi: 10.1016/j.aspen.2015.08.006 Link
Gemmell, A. P., and J. M. Marcus. 2015. A tale of two haplotypes: Evaluating the New World Junonia ring species hypothesis using the distribution of divergent COI haplotypes. Systematic Entomology 40: 532-546. doi: 10.1111/syen.12120 Link Supplemental Data
Abbasi, R. and J. M. Marcus. 2015. Color pattern evolution in Vanessa butterflies (Nymphalidae: Nymphalini): Non-eyespot characters. Evolution & Development 17 (1): 63-81. doi: 10.1111/ede.12109 Link
Gemmell, A. P., Borchers, T. E., and J. M. Marcus. 2014. Genetic Population Structure of Buckeye Butterflies (Junonia) from French Guiana, Martinique, and Guadeloupe. Psyche 2014 (897596): 1-21. doi: 10.1155/2014/897596 Link
Beaudette, K., T. M. Hughes, and J. M. Marcus. 2014. Improved injection needles facilitate germ-line transformation of the buckeye butterfly Junonia coenia. Biotechniques 56: 142-144. doi: 10.2144/000114147 Link
Borchers, T. E., and J. M. Marcus. 2014. Genetic Population Structure of Buckeye Butterflies (Junonia) from Argentina. Systematic Entomology 39 (2): 242-255. doi: 10.1111/syen.12053 Link
Marcus, J.M., T. M. Hughes, D. M. McElroy, and R. E. Wyatt. 2010. Engaging First Year Undergraduates in Hands-On Research Experiences: The Upper Green River Barcode of Life Project. Journal of College Science Teaching 39 (3): 39-45. Link PDF
Covell, C. V., Jr., B. D. Marcus, and J. M. Marcus. 2009. KY Butterfly Net: An Interactive Web Database to facilitate Lepidoptera research and education in Kentucky. Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 63 (4): 209-213. Link
Marcus, J. M. and T. M. Hughes. 2009. Transposon Insertions as Unknowns for Structured Inquiry Recombination Mapping Exercises in an Undergraduate Genetics Course. Genetics 182 (1): 1-6. doi:10.1534/genetics.109.101774. Link PDF
Marcus, J.M., D. B. Bell, A. N. Bryant, E. C. Burden, M. E. Carter, T. J. Cataldo, K. R. Clark, H. E. Compton, L. S. DeJarnette, V. B. Faulkner, R. W. Gregory, J. R. Hall, L. N. Houchin, M. E. Hudson, P. F. Jenkins III, J. M. Jordan, B. K. Logan, N. R. Long, H. F. Maupin, S. R. McIntyre, J. K. Mitchell, J. K. Mobley, A. N. Nehus, B. N. Potts, C. R. Read, K. N. Slinker, C. E. Thompson, T. M. Hughes, D. M. McElroy, and R. E. Wyatt. 2009. The Upper Green River Barcode of Life Project. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science 70 (1): 75-83.
Marcus, J. M. and T. M. Evans. 2008. A Simulation Study of Mutations in the Genetic Regulatory Hierarchy for Butterfly Eyespot Focus Determination. BioSystems 93: 250-255. Link Simulations
Marcus, J. M. 2007. Strange Bedfellows: Report of a Red-Spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) mating with an Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma). News of the Lepidopterists' Society 49(4): 129, 136. PDF
Marcus, J. M., B. D. Marcus, and C. V. Covell. 2007. KY Butterfly Net: An Interactive Web Database to facilitate Lepidoptera research and education in Kentucky. http://www.kybutterfly.net
Evans, T. M. and J. M. Marcus. 2006. A Simulation Study of the Genetic Regulatory Hierarchy for Butterfly Eyespot Focus Determination. Evolution & Development 8 (3): 273-283. Link PDF Simulations
Marcus, J. M. 2005. A Partial Solution to the C-Value Paradox. Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics 3678: 97-105. Link PDF Online Supplement
Marcus, J. M. 2005. Point of View: Students, Butterflies, and Cancer. Journal of College Science Teaching 35 (3): 8-10. Link PDF
Marcus, J. M. 2005. Jumping Genes and AFLP Maps: Transforming Lepidopteran Color Pattern Genetics. Evolution & Development 7 (2): 108-114. Link PDF
Hughes, T. M. and J. M. Marcus. 2004. Recombination mapping of P[lacW] transposons. Drosophila Information Service 87: 49-52. Link PDF
Marcus, J. M., D. M. Ramos, A. Monteiro. 2004. Transformation of the butterfly Bicyclus anynana. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B (Supplement: Biology Letters) 27 (S5): 263-265. Link PDF
Marcus, J. M. 2003. Recombination mapping of P-element transposon inserts: A new set of laboratory exercises for an undergraduate genetics course. Drosophila Information Service 86: 168-171. Link PDF
Marcus, J. M. 2003. Female site-specific transposase-induced recombination (FaSSTIR): A high-efficiency method for fine-mapping mutations on the X-chromosome in Drosophila. Genetics 163 (2): 591-597. Link PDF
Marcus, J. M. 2001. The development and evolution of crossveins in insect wings. Journal of Anatomy 199 (1&2): 211-216. Link PDF
Marcus, J. M. 2001. A Teaching Statement. Chronicle for Higher Education Career Network. Link
Marcus, J. M. and J. E. Seiff. 2000. Why don't creationists use private schools? Nature 407 (6805): 671. Link
Marcus, J. M. and A.R. McCune. 1999. Ontogeny and phylogeny in the northern swordtail clade of the genus Xiphophorus. Systematic Biology 48 (3): 491-522. Link PDF

Links:
Pan American Society of Evolutionary Developmental Biology
Society of Kentucky Lepidopterists
Last updated: October 31, 2019