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I am Greg Hocutt and I teach Introductory Biology for Non-Majors (BIO100), Majors Biology (BIO181) General Genetics (BIO240), and General Genetics Lab (BIO244) at Mesa Community College at Southern and Dobson. I received my Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University in English and American Language and Literature. During my studies as an undergraduate, I studied the rich literature of dead Germanic languages - Old English, Old High German, Old Norse - you get the picture. Shakespeare was about as modern as I got in my readings. As if I did not have enough language to translate, I also undertook my sixth year of Latin as a Sophomore.

So what about the science thing, you ask, i.e. why are you here Dr. Hocutt? That's a long story. But it involves moving to Arizona and getting a Ph.D. in Biology with an emphasis on Evolution and Genetics from Arizona State University. I did some small mammal ecological studies in old-growth mixed conifer forest in the White Mountains. Ultimately, I conducted my dissertation research on issues of speciation theory; reinforcement, to be exact. What is speciation? That's an easy one. Speciation is the process through which two populations of the same species eventually end up as two distinct species. How does that happen? Another long story - but I can't tell you the whole thing. When is speciation accomplished? Well, if you take my BIO100 course, I'll tell you that speciation is accomplished once members of different populations can no longer interbreed to produce fertile offspring. My dissertation research taught me that it's really a lot more complicated than that, but what you don't know won't hurt you. Right?

My research involved small flies of the genus Drosophila that feed from, lay eggs in, and develop within the aromatic rotting tissues of our native Sonora and Mojave Desert cacti. So if you want to discuss ecological interactions surrounding rotting cactus, or speciation of Desert Drosophila, I am your man at MCC main campus.

I am also collecting videographic oral histories of veterans of the Second World War. If you are interested in discussing this project with me, or have a relative who served, drop by the office or send me an e-mail: hocutt@mail.mc.maricopa.edu.