Charles Sibley

Charles Gald Sibley ( born August 7, 1917 in Fresno, California, † 12 April 1998) was an American ornithologist and molecular biologist, one of the founders and a leading figure in the field of molecular systematics. His research has changed our understanding of the evolutionary history of modern birds fundamentally.

Life and work

After completing his studies in 1940, Sibley spent a year working for the U.S. Public Health Service. His military service he served in the U.S. Navy from, was called later and spent the last 19 months of World War II in the Pacific. His first stop was the Emiru island that is part of the St. Matthias Group. There he collected when he was not on duty, and sent samples to the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. In the early 60s, Sibley began to focus on molecular studies, the early 70s he pioneered in the field of DNA -DNA hybridization, with the aim to reveal the relationships between modern birds. Throughout his academic career Sibley worked at six universities. His first job was in 1948 as an assistant at the University of Kansas. Only a year later, he joined the San Jose State College to a position as assistant professor of zoology. In 1953 he went to Cornell University, where he rose in the following years as Professor of Ornithology and Director of the ornithological laboratory. 1965 Sibley moved to Yale University, where he worked as a professor of biology. In 1970 he was appointed director of the Peabody Museum of Natural History. 1986 Sibley was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. In the same year he retired.

Between 1988 and 1993, Sibley was awarded the Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal - 1991, the Alessandro - Ghigi Medal, and was promoted to associate professor in 1993. In 1990 he was elected president of the International Ornithological Congress.

For a while Sibley estranged from his American colleagues and exchanged views extensively with colleagues from overseas. Key findings Sibley, about the close relationship of geese birds and chickens birds and their difference from others Neukiefervögeln, are still valid today. His most important publications Phylogeny and Classification of Birds and Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World are among the most cited ornithological works.