Mohamed Noor

{{short description|American geneticist}}

{{about|the geneticist|the American law enforcement officer|Killing of Justine Damond|other people with similar names|Muhammad Noor (disambiguation)}}

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| name = Mohamed A. F. Noor

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| caption = Noor in 2019

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| fields = Evolutionary biology
Genetics
Genomics

| workplaces = Duke University

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| education = B.S., Biology
Ph.D., Ecology and Evolution

| alma_mater = College of William & Mary
University of Chicago

| thesis_title = The evolution of mating discrimination between Drosophila pseudoobscura and D. persimilis

| thesis_url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/35283777_The_evolution_of_mating_discrimination_between_Drosophila_pseudoobscura_and_D_persimilis

| thesis_year = 1996

| doctoral_advisors = Jerry Coyne

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| known_for = Evolutionary genetics research
Online course in Coursera
Science outreach

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| awards = Darwin–Wallace Medal
Stephen J. Gould Prize[http://www.evolutionsociety.org/content/society-awards-and-prizes/the-stephen-jay-gould-prize.html (link)] awarded annually by the Society for the Study of Evolution to recognize individuals whose sustained and exemplary efforts have advanced public understanding of evolutionary science and its importance in biology, education, and everyday life in the spirit of Stephen Jay Gould, retrieved 23 December 2019
NCSE Friend of Darwin Award (2021){{cite web | url=https://ncse.ngo/friend-darwin-and-friend-planet-awards-2021 | title=Friend of Darwin and Friend of the Planet awards for 2021 | National Center for Science Education }}

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| website = {{URL|scholars.duke.edu/person/noor}}

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Mohamed Noor is the Executive Vice ProvostDuke Today, [https://today.duke.edu/2024/06/mohamed-noor-appointed-executive-vice-provost "Mohamed Noor Appointed Executive Vice Provost"], retrieved 10 October 2024 and a Professor in the Biology Department at Duke University (formerly holding the rotating titles of Earl D. McLean Professor,Duke Today, [https://today.duke.edu/2011/05/distprof11 "Duke Honors Distinguished Professors"], retrieved 21 July 2018 department chair, dean of natural sciences,Duke Today, [https://today.duke.edu/2018/10/mohamed-noor-named-trinity-college-dean-natural-sciences "Mohamed Noor named Trinity College dean of natural sciences"], retrieved 21 August 2022 Interim Dean of Arts & Sciences,Duke Today, [https://today.duke.edu/2022/04/mohamed-noor-named-interim-dean-trinity-college-arts-sciences "Mohamed Noor named Interim Dean of Trinity College of Arts & Sciences"], retrieved 21 August 2022 and Interim Vice Provost for Academic AffairsDuke Today, [https://today.duke.edu/2022/12/noor-and-oates-serve-interim-vice-provost-roles "Noor and Oates to Serve in Interim Vice Provost Roles"], retrieved 1 February 2023). His specialties include evolution, genetics and genomics.

Noor has a BS from the College of William and Mary in 1992 and a PhD from University of Chicago (1996), together with a postdoctoral residency at Cornell University (1996–1998). He specializes in Drosophila evolution. His team's research approaches have included both classical genetic mapping, as well as analyses of whole genome sequences.Scudellari, Megan, [https://www.the-scientist.com/profile/burgers-and-flies-41048 "Burgers and Flies"], The Scientist, 1 May 2012, retrieved 21 July 2018

Likewise, Noor was one of the first scientists to demonstrate by experiment speciation by reinforcement, that is, as a result of natural selection mating preferences diverge against deleterious hybridization and reduce gene flow between species. He is also known for developing (along with others) a model wherein regions of restricted recombination, as by chromosomal inversions, facilitate the persistence of hybridizing species.Bates, Karl, [https://alumni.duke.edu/magazine/articles/descended-darwin "Descended from Darwin"], Duke Magazine, 1 April 2009, retrieved 23 December 2019

Later, his research team has focused on understanding variation in recombination rate within and between species, and its impact on DNA sequence variation.

In 2008, he was awarded the Darwin-Wallace Medal from the Linnean Society of London.Duke Today, [https://today.duke.edu/2008/05/noor.html "Duke Biologist Wins Darwin-Wallace Medal"], retrieved 21 July 2018

In 2021, he was awarded a Friend of Darwin award by the National Center for Science Education.{{cite web |last=Branch |first=Glenn |author-link=Glenn Branch |title=Friend of Darwin and Friend of the Planet awards for 2021 |url=https://ncse.ngo/friend-darwin-and-friend-planet-awards-2021 |website=National Center for Science Education |access-date=28 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728183901/https://ncse.ngo/friend-darwin-and-friend-planet-awards-2021 |archive-date=28 July 2021}}

He served as editor-in-chief of the international journal Evolution (2016-2019), is or was associate editor for several other journals, and the author of over 100 publications. He has served as president of the American Genetic Association (2012) and Society for the Study of Evolution (2014) and as a board member for the Genetics Society of America.

Noor has been active in education and outreach, receiving numerous teaching and mentoring awards from his institution,Duke University Graduate School, [https://gradschool.duke.edu/about/news/2010-dean%E2%80%99s-award-mohamed-noor "2010 Dean's Award: Mohamed Noor"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713065800/https://gradschool.duke.edu/about/news/2010-dean%E2%80%99s-award-mohamed-noor |date=2015-07-13 }}, retrieved 21 July 2018Duke Today, [https://today.duke.edu/2013/11/noor "Mohamed Noor: 'What Matters To Me and Why'"], retrieved 21 July 2018 and teaching an online course in genetics and evolution. He and his group have also developed laboratory activities for implementation in high schools and colleges, including a commercial kit for observing natural selection in Drosophila. He published a book that uses Star Trek to teach principles in genetics and evolution,Noor, M. A. F. 2018. Live Long and Evolve: What Star Trek Can Teach Us about Evolution, Genetics, and Life on Other Worlds. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. {{ISBN|978-0691177410}}, 208 pages. and gives classes and talks at various venues using science fiction to teach science.StarTrek.COM, [https://www.startrek.com/news/meet-college-professor-teaching-trek-millennials "Meet the College Professor Teaching 'Trek' to Millennials"], retrieved 23 December 2019 On the side, he also serves as a science consultant for the Star Trek television franchise.IMDb listing, [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11620507/], retrieved 17 October 2020