Department of Biology

David's postdoctoral work drew him toward a lifelong interest in the developmental biology of bacteria, especially myxobacteria. Once at IU, David began a series of investigations on myxobacteria, documenting the roles of light, specific ions, and an aggregation pheromone in the myxobacterial developmental process. This work provided beautiful electron micrographic pictures of the aggregation and fruiting process in Stigmatella, which appeared in a number of review articles he and his students have authored, and have become classic images widely used as textbook illustrations. (excepted from 2000 retirement tribute)