Professor David McConnell
Short CV
1966
1971
1976-77
19701987-98
19901990-91
2001-10
BA, Trinity College
PhD, California Institute of Technology
Eleanor Roosevelt Fellowship, Harvard University
Department of Genetics, Trinity College
Head of Department of Genetics
Professor of Genetics, Trinity College
Vice-Provost, Trinity College
Chairman, Irish Times Trust
Research
From molecular genetics to public science in Ireland
Studies in the field of molecular genetics, especially the control of gene expression in phage and bacteria, led to
more than 100 papers published in international journals.
Led the development of molecular genetics, DNA sequencing, molecular cloning (recombinant DNA) etc in Trinity
College and Ireland 1970-90, with contracts with many research agencies and industrial collaborators (Guinness,
Schering Plough, ICI, BP and Novo-Nordisk). Advisor to UNIDO and other international agencies on biotechnology in
India, Egypt, Kuwait, Belgium, Cuba, Hungary, Thailand, Pakistan, Spain, Sweden, Yugoslavia, Morocco, Vietnam,
Nepal and Norway.
Proposed, and oversaw the design and development of the Smurfit Institute of Genetics. Proposed and advised on
the formation of a national research foundation now called Science Foundation Ireland.
As a public advocate of science and technology in Ireland, I am working on a study of the place of science in Irish
society.
Selected Publications
Murphy, N., McConnell, D.J. and Cantwell, B. (1983). DNA sequence of the gene and genetic control sites
for the excreted B.subtilis enzyme ß-glucanase. Nucleic Acids Research. 15, 5355-5367.
Sharp, P.M., Rogers, M.S. and McConnell, D.J. (1985). Selection pressures on codon usage in the complete genome
of bacteriophage T7. J. Mol. Evol. 21, 150-160.
Kelly, J., Tossi, A., OhUigin, C. and McConnell, D.J. (1985). A study of the interaction of some polypyridylruthenium
(II) complexes with DNA using fluorescence spectroscopy, topoisomerisation and thermal denaturation. Nucleic
Acids Research 13: 6017-6034.
Oliver, S.G. et al. (1992) The complete DNA sequence of yeast chromosome III. Nature 357, 38-46.
Hobson, A.H., Buckley, C.M., Aamand, J.L., Jorgensen, S.T., Diderichsen B., and McConnell D.J.
(1993) Activation of a bacterial lipase by its chaperone Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
(USA) 90, 5682-5686.
McConnell, D.J. (2001) “Responsible use of genetics”. In: Proceedings of EU Conference “Genetics and the future of
Europe”. Convened by Commissioner Busquin, Brussels, November 2000.
Mayor, F et al. (2003) The European Research Council: A Cornerstone in the European Research Area: Report from
an expert group to Danish Government.
Address
Smurfit Institute of Genetics,
Trinity College Dublin.
[email protected]