{"id":15654,"date":"2026-03-09T13:21:37","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T18:21:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/?p=15654"},"modified":"2026-03-09T13:26:40","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T18:26:40","slug":"joseph-thornton-the-scientist-resurrecting-genetic-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/eternal-15654-joseph-thornton-the-scientist-resurrecting-genetic-history","title":{"rendered":"Joseph Thornton: The Scientist Resurrecting Genetic History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A prominent American biologist, Joe Thornton is a professor at the University of Chicago and a former <a href=\"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/eternal-15060-scientific-achievements-of-nobel-laureate-milton-friedman\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/eternal-15060-scientific-achievements-of-nobel-laureate-milton-friedman\">investigator<\/a> at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He is renowned for his revolutionary work in ancestral gene resurrection and his exploration of the mechanisms through which proteins acquire new functions. His research has not only deepened our understanding of evolution but has also become a focal point in debates regarding intelligent design. Read more on <a href=\"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\">ichicago<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a49cd32eb207\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a49cd32eb207\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/eternal-15654-joseph-thornton-the-scientist-resurrecting-genetic-history\/#Biography\" >Biography<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/eternal-15654-joseph-thornton-the-scientist-resurrecting-genetic-history\/#Research\" >Research<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/eternal-15654-joseph-thornton-the-scientist-resurrecting-genetic-history\/#Scientific_Impact\" >Scientific Impact<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/eternal-15654-joseph-thornton-the-scientist-resurrecting-genetic-history\/#Awards_and_Honors\" >Awards and Honors<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Biography\"><\/span>Biography<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Joe Thornton followed an unconventional path into the sciences. He began his academic journey as an English literature major and spent several years as an environmental activist with Greenpeace. This background gave him a unique perspective on the profound impact science has on both society and the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thornton eventually moved into formal biological training, earning his PhD in evolutionary genetics from Columbia University. His doctoral research on the mechanisms of genetic change laid the groundwork for his future in reconstructing molecular evolution. He later refined his expertise at the American Museum of Natural History, where he mastered techniques for tracing the evolutionary histories of proteins. It was during this period that he began merging his activist roots with empirical research on molecular evolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2002, Thornton launched his independent academic career as an assistant professor of biology at the University of Oregon. By 2009, he had risen to the rank of professor at the Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. In 2012, he joined the University of Chicago, where he currently leads the Thornton Lab and contributes to interdisciplinary graduate programs in ecology, evolution, and genetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thornton\u2019s work has been supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, where he served as an Early Career Scientist, securing funding to study protein evolution through the resurrection of ancient genes. In 2014, he was awarded a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship for his significant contributions to integrative evolutionary and molecular biology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"757\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ichicago.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/03\/image-27.jpeg\" alt=\"Joe Thornton working in a lab\" class=\"wp-image-15621\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ichicago.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/03\/image-27.jpeg 757w, https:\/\/cdn.ichicago.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/03\/image-27-300x152.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.ichicago.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/03\/image-27-696x353.jpeg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 757px) 100vw, 757px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Research\"><\/span>Research<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Modern biology relies heavily on an interdisciplinary approach to understand how proteins evolve. Labs dedicated to these processes bring together evolutionary biologists, biochemists, biophysicists, computational biologists, and geneticists. By sharing methods and insights, researchers can peer deep into protein history to determine how their properties and functions have shifted over millions of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The primary tool in this research is phylogenetic reconstruction. Scientists &#8220;resurrect&#8221; protein sequences from the distant past, synthesize them in a laboratory, and then experimentally evaluate their biological functions and physical traits. This allows them to identify which mutations drove significant functional changes and how the interaction between different shifts\u2014known as epistasis\u2014shapes evolutionary outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Studying protein evolution helps answer both classic and contemporary questions: How do complex molecular systems emerge? Does evolution happen through small tweaks or major leaps? Does epistasis dictate specific evolutionary paths? Crucially, researchers also explore whether the evolutionary process is reversible and how biological architecture influences development. This analysis reveals why proteins possess specific structures and why some are more vulnerable to certain drugs or pollutants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thornton famously resurrected ancient steroid receptors to discover how they developed their specificity. His team reconstructed receptors dating back 450 to 600 million years, showing that the original versions were &#8220;promiscuous&#8221;\u2014meaning they could interact with multiple ligands. Gradual, stabilizing mutations allowed modern receptors to develop precise specificity without losing their primary function. Laboratory tests proved that &#8220;winding back the clock&#8221; to ancestral states was impossible due to accumulated structural constraints, confirming the importance of historical contingency in defining modern protein functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1305\" height=\"918\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ichicago.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/03\/image-28.jpeg\" alt=\"Scientific visualization of protein evolution\" class=\"wp-image-15624\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ichicago.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/03\/image-28.jpeg 1305w, https:\/\/cdn.ichicago.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/03\/image-28-300x211.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.ichicago.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/03\/image-28-768x540.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.ichicago.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/03\/image-28-696x490.jpeg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1305px) 100vw, 1305px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Scientific_Impact\"><\/span>Scientific Impact<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Joe Thornton\u2019s primary focus is ancestral protein resurrection. This technique allows him to reconstruct genetic sequences and recreate their activity in a lab setting to observe how proteins evolved new functions over eons. His work has significantly impacted discussions on biological complexity, as his experiments prove that complex functions can emerge through gradual evolutionary changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This highlights the roles of chance and contingency, making evolution both unpredictable and scientifically verifiable. His research has fostered the growth of experimental molecular paleobiology and provided mechanistic explanations for evolutionary processes, effectively dismantling arguments regarding the &#8220;irreducible complexity&#8221; of protein systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"403\" height=\"265\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ichicago.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/03\/image-29.jpeg\" alt=\"Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction diagram\" class=\"wp-image-15627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ichicago.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/03\/image-29.jpeg 403w, https:\/\/cdn.ichicago.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/03\/image-29-300x197.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 403px) 100vw, 403px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thornton\u2019s hallmark method is Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction (ASR). By using phylogenetic analysis of modern homologs, he recreates protein sequences that existed hundreds of millions of years ago. These proteins are then synthesized and analyzed for their biophysical properties. This approach reveals how evolutionary innovations arise through successive mutations that temporarily lift constraints, opening doors for further change. His methodology has since been adopted by labs worldwide to study ancient enzymes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thornton\u2019s research is a staple in high-impact journals like Nature and Science, with over 14,500 citations. His work demonstrates how scientific methods can reconstruct the past and test hypotheses about the development of complex life, offering vital insights for biomedicine, genetics, and fundamental life sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ichicago.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/03\/image-30.jpeg\" alt=\"Joe Thornton presenting his research\" class=\"wp-image-15630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.ichicago.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/03\/image-30.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/cdn.ichicago.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/03\/image-30-300x288.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Awards_and_Honors\"><\/span>Awards and Honors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For his contributions to science, Joe Thornton has received numerous accolades, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) at the White House. He is also a recipient of the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Early Career Scientist Award. His unique approach\u2014blending molecular biology with evolutionary theory\u2014has established him as one of the leading scientists of our time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His career serves as a powerful example of how an unconventional path\u2014from English literature and environmental activism to molecular biology\u2014can lead to revolutionary discoveries. He continues to inspire young scientists to embrace diverse interests and forge their own unique trails in the scientific world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A prominent American biologist, Joe Thornton is a professor at the University of Chicago and a former investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He is renowned for his revolutionary work in ancestral gene resurrection and his exploration of the mechanisms through which proteins acquire new functions. His research has not only deepened our understanding [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":514,"featured_media":15635,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4819],"tags":[7588,7573,7585,7591,7590,7586,7584,7589,7583,7587],"moimportance":[32,35],"motype":[4825],"moformat":[88],"class_list":["post-15654","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-innovator","tag-ancestral-protein-resurrection","tag-ancestral-sequence-reconstruction","tag-biophysical-constraints-of-evolution","tag-experimental-molecular-paleobiology","tag-gradual-protein-evolution","tag-joe-thornton-evolutionary-biology","tag-joseph-thornton","tag-protein-function-history","tag-protein-research","tag-steroid-hormone-receptors","moimportance-golovna-novyna","moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory","motype-eternal","moformat-copywriting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15654","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/514"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15654"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15654\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15655,"href":"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15654\/revisions\/15655"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15654"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15654"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15654"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=15654"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=15654"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ichicago.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=15654"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}