JOHN MARTIN MCCULLOUGH portrait
  • Emeritus Staff, Anthropology Department
  • Professor, Anthropology Department
  • Professor Emeritus, Anthropology Department
  • Professor, Anthropology Department

Publications

  • Hemochromatosis: Niche Construction and the Genetic Domino Effect in the European Neolithic. Human Biology Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is caused by a potentially lethal recessive gene (HFE, C282Y allele) that increases iron absorption and reaches polymorphic levels in Northern European populations. Because persons carrying the allele absorb iron more readily than non-carriers, it has often been suggested HFE is an adaptation to anemia. We hypothesize positive selection for HFE began during or after the European Neolithic with the adoption of an iron-deficient high grain and dairying diet and consequent anemia, a finding confirmed in Neolithic and later European skeletons. HFE frequency compared with rate of lactase persistence in Eurasia yields a positive linear correlation coefficient of 0.86. We suggest this is just one of many mutations that became common after the adoption of agriculture. Accepted, 12/02/2014.

Research Statement

My main areas of interest are for theory, evolutionary theory, especially as seen in demographic processes. In terms of regional interests - Colonial U. S.; Americans (that is, Native Americans), and Mexico, especially Yucatan and the Patzcuaro Region of Michoacan.

Research Keywords

  • Evolutionary Anthropolgy

Presentations

  • Heath, Kathleen M., McCullough, John M. and Macadaeg, Gary The Villains of Salem - Why the Witches Were Witches. In "The Image of the Hero." Spciety for the Interdisciplinary Study of Social Imagery. Colorado Springs, Colorado. 20 March 2014. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 03/20/2014.
  • Whatever Happened to Hester Prynne? The Image of the Adulteress in Colonial America and their Reproductive Consequences. 23rd Annual Conference, The Society for the Interdisciplinary Study of Social Imagery, Colorado Springs, CO, 8 March 2013. (with Kathleen M. Heath and ALexis M. Smith). Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 01/2013.
  • Presenting evidence concerning human remains: Improving expert testimony JOHN M MCCULLOUGH, and CAITLIN N DARDENNE. In Symposium: "Forensic Anthropology, Human Rights and Bioarchaeology of the Individual: A Tribute to the Life and Works of Karen Ramey Burns. 82nd Annual Conference, American Association of Physical Anthropologists. Knoxville, TN, 13 April 2013 . Conference Paper, Refereed, Accepted, 12/2012.
  • Karen Ramey Burns:A Retrospective. With Caitlin N Dardenne and Alexis M Smith. Mountain, Desert and Coastal Forensic Anthropology Group, Boulder City, Nevada, May 2012. Conference Paper, Presented, 05/2012.
  • Digging the Kid; Public Exposure in a High Profile Autopsy. Chac Mool Conference, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. Conference Paper, Other, 11/2010.
  • Where to Build the Nest? The Effect of family Composition on Post-marital Residence in Colonial New England. 22nd Annual Meeting, The human Behavior and Evolution Society. Eugene, Oregon. With KM Heath, M. Williams and M Arima. Poster, Presented, 06/18/2010.
  • Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Effect of Parental Survival on Children's Age at Marriage in Colonial New England. 22nd Annual Meeting, The human Behavior and Evolution Society. Eugene, Oregon. With JM Rosser, A Priest and KM Heath. Poster, Presented, 06/18/2010.

Research/Scholarship Projects

  • Colonial New England Demographic Database. PI: McCullough, John M. Co-PI(s): Heath, Kathleen M. (Indiana State University). 01/2005 - present.

Research Equipment and Testing Expertise

  • Anthropometry, as per my participation in the Human Genome Project.

Languages

  • Cherokee, basic.
  • Lakota, basic.
  • Spanish, functional.

Geographical Regions of Interest

  • Europe
  • Mexico
  • Northern America