Professor John Hutchinson
Department: Comparative Biomedical Sciences
Campus: Hawkshead
Research Groups: Musculoskeletal Biology
Research Centres: Structure & Motion Laboratory, MicroCT
Professor Hutchinson is a Professor of Evolutionary Biomechanics. John's research straddles the fields of evolutionary biology and biomechanics, with an emphasis on how very large animals stand and move and how locomotion evolved in different groups of land vertebrates. He has mentored 16 postdoctoral scholars, 9 research technicians, 9 PhD students (plus 19 more as co-supervisor/committtee member), 7 masters students and over 150 undergraduate student research projects since 2004.
Professor Hutchinson is an American biologist who found a new home in the UK as a dual citizen. He gained a BS degree in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin in 1993, then received a PhD in Integrative Biology at the University of California with Kevin Padian in 2001 (view my academic lineage here!), and rounded out his training with a two-year National Science Foundation bioinformatics Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Biomechanical Engineering Division of Stanford University with Scott Delp.
John started at the Royal Veterinary College as a Lecturer in Evolutionary Biomechanics in 2003 in the Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences (now Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences), in 2008 became a Reader, and in 2011 became a full Professor.
Prof. Hutchinson is an Editor for Proceedings of the Royal Society B and the modern open access journal PeerJ. He is also a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, the Zoological Society of London, the Anatomical Society (UK), the Higher Education Academy (UK) and the Royal Society of Biology. From 2012-2013 he had a sabbatical as a Royal Society Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellow at the RVC. He is Chair of the Division of Vertebrate Morphology in the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. As an OpenSim Fellow he promotes the usage and improvement of computer simulations in biomechanics, and he was New Fellow of the Year of the Anatomical Society in 2015. Prof. Hutchinson has also held Honorary Professorships at the University of Queensland (Australia) and at University College London.
John's team is part of the Structure & Motion Laboratory.
Prof. Hutchinson has worked on extant and extinct animals ranging from birds and crocodiles to elephants and many other mammals as well as extinct dinosaurs and early tetrapods. John uses a combination of theoretical and experimental techniques, from motion analysis or XROMM and force platforms to simple 2D static mechanics or complex 3D fully dynamic computer simulations.
Along with his collaborators, he has secured over £7 million in research funding since 2004; including grants from the BBSRC, NERC, Royal Society, Wellcome Trust, Leverhulme Trust, Royal Society, ERC and multiple EU Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellowships. His team's major current ERC-funded project through 2021 "Dawn of the Dinosaurs" has a website here.
Examples of Prof. Hutchinson's current and past research projects are here:
1. Tyrannosaurus was not a fast runner
2. Why dinosaur locomotion is about more than just bones
3. Are fast-moving elephants really running?
4. How elephants use their limbs to move like 4WD vehicles
5. Do elephants have six toes?
6. Three-dimensional computer modelling shows how Tyrannosaurus rex grew
7. Limb joint mobility in the early tetrapod Ichthyostega reveals how walking evolved
8. Using particle accelerators to show how the tetrapod backbone evolved
9. Biomechanics and pathology of mammalian feet (BBSRC grant w/Renate Weller and colleagues)
10. Evolution of dinosaur body shape and locomotion
11. Evolution of form, function and development of sesamoid bones in vertebrate limbs
12. Dawn of the dinosaurs: testing the locomotor superiority hypothesis (current major project through 2021)
ORCID: 0000-0002-6767-7038 Citations: 7226; H-index: 45; i10-index: 103 Google Scholar page
* = undergraduate student coauthor at JRH institution
Publications: (160 since 1997) Peer-Reviewed Journals (139):
139. Allen, V.R., Kilbourne, B.M., Hutchinson, J.R. 2020. The evolution of pelvic limb muscle moment arms in bird-line archosaurs. Science Advances, in press. Data available at https://figshare.com/s/c4ac5444f41c26ff4db1
138. Schachner, E.R., Hedrick, B.P., Richbourg, H.A., Hutchinson, J.R., Farmer, C.G. 2020. Anatomy, ontogeny, and evolution of the archosaurian respiratory system: a case study on Alligator mississippiensis and Struthio camelus. Journal of Anatomy, in press. Data available at
137. Michel, K.B., West, T.G., Daley, M.A., Allen, V.R., Hutchinson, J.R. 2020. Appendicular muscle physiology and biomechanics in Crocodylus niloticus. Integrative Organismal Biology, in press.
136. Molnar, J.L.M., Hutchinson, J.R., Diogo, R., Clack, J.A., Pierce, S.E. 2020. Evolution of forelimb musculoskeletal function across the fish-to-tetrapod transition. Science Advances, in press.
135. Bishop, P.J., Bates, K.T., Allen, V.R., Henderson, D.M., Randau, M., Hutchinson, J.R. 2020. Relationships of mass properties and body proportions to locomotor habit in terrestrial Archosauria. Paleobiology, published online. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/pab.2020.47 Data available at https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.msbcc2fwh
134. Bishop, P.J., Cuff, A.R., Hutchinson, J.R. 2020. How to build a dinosaur: musculoskeletal modelling and simulation of locomotor biomechanics in extinct animals. Paleobiology, published online. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/pab.2020.46
133. Chong, B., Ozkan Aydi, Y., Gong. C., Sartoretti, G., Wu, Y., Rieser, J.M., Xing, H., Schiebel, P.E., Rankin, J.W., Michel. K.B., Nicieza, A., Hutchinson, J.R., Goldman, D.I., Choset, H. 2020. Coordination of lateral body bending and leg movements for sprawled posture quadrupedal locomotion. International Journal of Robotics Research, in press. doi: 10.1177/ToBeAssigned
132. Demuth, O.E., Rayfield, E.J., Hutchinson, J.R. 2020. 3D hindlimb joint mobility of the stem-archosaur Euparkeria capensiswith implications for postural evolution within Archosauria. Scientific Reports 10:15357. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-70175-y Data available at https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Euparkeria_microCT_scan_data/12283811
131. Denyer, A.L., Regnault, S., Hutchinson, J.R. 2020. Evolution of the patella and patelloid in marsupial mammals. PeerJ 8:e9760. http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9760 Data available at https://figshare.com/articles/Computed_tomography_data_marsupial_patellae/11627190
130. Clark, E.G., Hutchinson, J.R., Bishop, P.J., Briggs, D.E.G. 2020. Arm waving in stylophoran echinoderms: three-dimensional mobility analysis illuminates cornute locomotion. Royal Society Open Science 7:200191. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.200191 Data available at https://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3sv28v7
129. Tsai, H.P., Middleton, K.M., Hutchinson, J.R., Holliday, C.M. 2020. More than one way to be a giant: Convergence and disparity in the hip joints of saurischian dinosaurs. Evolution 74(8):1654-1681. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14017
128. Pierce, S.E., Lamas, L.P., Pelligand, L., Schilling, N., Hutchinson, J.R. 2020. Patterns of limb and epaxial muscle activity during walking in the fire salamander, Salamandra salamandra. Integrative Organismal Biology obaa015. https://doi.org/10.1093/iob/obaa015
127. Hutchinson, J.R., Felkler, D.*, Houston, K., Chang, Y.-M., Brueggen, J., Kledzik, D. and Vliet, K.A. 2019. Divergent evolution of terrestrial locomotor abilities in extant Crocodylia. Scientific Reports 9:19302. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-55768-6 Data available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.11322035.v1
126. Scheyer, T.M., Hutchinson, J.R., Strauss, O., Delfino, M., Carrillo-Briceño, J.D., Sánchez, R., Sánchez-Villagra, M.R. 2019. Giant extinct caiman breaks constraint on the axial skeleton of extant crocodylians. eLife 8:e49972. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.49972
125. Strickson, E.C., Hutchinson, J.R., Wilkinson, D.M., Falkingham, P.L. 2019. Can skeletal surface area predict in vivo foot surface area? Journal of Anatomy, in press. Data available at .
124. Herbst, E.C., Doube, M., Smithson, T.R., Clack, J.A., Hutchinson, J.R. 2019. Bony lesions in early tetrapods and the evolution of mineralized tissue repair. Paleobiology, in press.
123. Otero, A., Cuff, A.R., Allen, V., Sumner-Rooney, L., Pol, D., Hutchinson, J.R. 2019. Ontogenetic changes in the body plan of the sauropodomorph dinosaur Mussaurus patagonicus reveal shifts of locomotor stance during growth. Scientific Reports 9:7614. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44037-1 Data available at https://figshare.com/s/264325d699de7323aa4e
122. Panagiotopoulou, O., Pataky, T.C., Hutchinson, J.R. 2019. Foot pressure distribution in White Rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) during walking. PeerJ 7:e6881. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6881 Data available at https://figshare.com/articles/Experimental_raw_pressure_pad_data_from_White_rhinoceroses/7608797
121. Esteve-Altava, B., Pierce, S.E., Molnar, J.L., Johnston, P., Diogo, R., Hutchinson, J.R. 2019. Evolutionary parallelisms of pectoral and pelvic network-anatomy from fins to limbs. Science Advances 5:eaau7459. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aau7459 Data available at https://figshare.com/s/4c3a1dd62d1f55728a0e
120. Cuff, A.R., Daley, M.A., Michel, K.B., Allen, V.R., Lamas, Luis P., Adami, C., Monticelli, P., Pelligand, L., Hutchinson, J.R. 2019. Relating neuromuscular control to functional anatomy of limb muscles in extant archosaurs. Journal of Morphology 280:666-680. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.20973
119. Kilbourne, B., Hutchinson, J.R. 2019. Morphological diversification of biomechanical traits: mustelid locomotor specializations and the macroevolution of long bone cross-sectional morphology. BMC Evolutionary Biology 19:37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-019-1349-8 Data available at https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7vf4004 and https://www.morphosource.org/Detail/ProjectDetail/Show/project_id/674
118. Basu, C., Deakin, F., Hutchinson, J.R. (co-senior author), Wilson, A.M. 2019. The running kinematics of free-roaming giraffes, measured using a low cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). PeerJ 7:e6312. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6312
117. Nyakatura, J.A., Melo, K., Horvat, T., Karakasiliotis, K., Allen, V.R., Andikfar, A., Andrada, E., Arnold, P., Lauströer, J., Hutchinson, J.R., Fischer, M.S., Ijspeert, A.J. 2019. Reverse engineering the locomotion of an extinct stem amniote. Nature 565:351–355. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0851-2 Interactive website at: https://biorob2.epfl.ch/pages/Orobates_interactive/ [Featured editorial, video and cover image]
116. Basu, C., Wilson, A.M., Hutchinson, J.R. 2019. The locomotor kinematics and ground reaction forces of walking giraffes. Journal of Experimental Biology 222: jeb159277. doi: 10.1242/jeb.159277 Data available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7297778
115. Monticelli, P., Ronaldson, H.L., Hutchinson, J.R., Cuff, A.R., d’Ovidio D., Adami, C. 2019. Medetomidine-ketamine-sevoflurane anaesthesia in juvenile Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) undergoing experimental surgery. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 46:84-89. doi: 10.1016/j.vaa.2018.09.004
114. Herbst, E., Hutchinson, J.R. 2018. New insights into the morphology of the Carboniferous tetrapod Crassigyrinus scoticus from computed tomography. Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, published online. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755691018000804 Data available at https://figshare.com/projects/Crassigyrinus_stem_tetrapod_fossil_CT_scan_data/38249
113. Bishop, P.J., Hocknull, S.A., Clemente, C.J., Hutchinson, J.R., Farke, A.A., Barrett, R.S., Lloyd, D.G. 2018. Cancellous bone and theropod dinosaur locomotion. Part III – Inferring posture and locomotor biomechanics in extinct theropods, and its evolution on the line to birds. PeerJ 6:e5778. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5778
112. Bishop, P.J., Hocknull, S.A., Clemente, C.J., Hutchinson, J.R., Barrett, R.S., Lloyd, D.G. 2018. Cancellous bone and theropod dinosaur locomotion. Part II – A new approach to inferring posture and locomotor biomechanics in extinct tetrapod vertebrates. PeerJ 6:e5779. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5779
111. Bishop, P.J., Hocknull, S.A., Clemente, C.J., Hutchinson, J.R., Farke, A.A., Beck, B.R., Barrett, R.S., Lloyd, D.G. 2018. Cancellous bone and theropod dinosaur locomotion. Part I – An examination of cancellous bone architecture in the hindlimb bones of theropods. PeerJ 6:e5777. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5777
110. Ellis, R., Rankin, J.W., Hutchinson, J.R. 2018. Limb kinematics, kinetics and muscle dynamics during the sit-to-stand transition in greyhounds. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 6:162. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2018.00162 Data available at https://figshare.com/projects/Limb_Kinematics_Kinetics_and_Muscle_Dynamics_During_the_Sit-to-Stand_Transition_in_Greyhounds_data/55904
109. Heers, A.M., Rankin, J.W., Hutchinson, J.R. 2018. Building a bird: Musculoskeletal modeling and simulation of wing-assisted incline running during avian ontogeny. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 6:140. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2018.00140
108. Doube, M., Felder, A.F., Chua, M.Y., Lodhia, K., Klosowski, M., Hutchinson, J.R., Shefelbine, S.J. 2018. Limb bone scaling in hopping macropods and quadrupedal artiodactyls. Royal Society Open Science 5: 180152. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.180152 Data available at: doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.5634208
107. Clark, E., Hutchinson, J.R., Darrock, S.A.F., Mongiardino Koch, N., Brady, T.R., Smith, S.A., Briggs, D.E.G. 2018. Integrating morphology, skeletal mobility and in vivo behavioral observations with digital models to infer function in brittle star arms. Journal of Anatomy 233:696-714. doi: 10.1111/joa.12887
106. Charles, J.P., Cappellari, O., Hutchinson, J.R. 2018. A dynamic simulation of musculoskeletal function in the mouse hindlimb during trotting locomotion. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 6:61. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2018.00061 Data available at https://simtk.org/projects/mousehindlimb
105. Molnar, J., Diogo, R., Hutchinson, J.R., Pierce, S.E. 2018. Evolution of hindlimb muscle anatomy across the tetrapod water-land transition, including comparisons with forelimb anatomy. Anatomical Record, published online. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.23997
104. Adams, G., Cook, R.B., Hutchinson, J.R., Zioupos, P. 2018. Bone apparent and material densities examined by cone beam computed tomography and the Archimedes technique: comparison of the two methods and their results. Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering: Mechanics of Materials 3:23. doi: 10.3389/fmech.2017.00023
103. Bishop, P.J., Clemente, C.J., Graham, D.F., Lamas, L.P., Hutchinson, J.R., Rubenson, J., Wilson, R.S., Hocknull, S.A., Barrett, R.S., Lloyd, D.G. 2018. The influence of speed and size on avian terrestrial locomotor biomechanics: predicting locomotion in extinct theropod dinosaurs. PLOS One 13(2): e0192172. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192172
102. Tickle, P.G., Hutchinson, J.R., Codd, J.R. 2018. Energy allocation and behaviour in the growing broiler chicken. Scientific Reports 8:4562. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-22604-2
101. Tsai, H., Middleton, K.M., Hutchinson, J.R., Holliday, C.M. 2018. Hip joint articular soft tissues of non-dinosaurian Dinosauromorpha and early Dinosauria: evolutionary and biomechanical implications for Saurischia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. doi: 10.1080/02724634.2017.1427593
100. Esteve-Altava, B., Molnar, J.L., Johnston, P., Hutchinson, J.R., Diogo, R. 2018. Anatomical network analysis of the musculoskeletal system reveals integration loss and parcellation boost during the fins-to-limbs transition. Evolution 72: 601-618. doi: 10.1111/evo.13430 Data and code available at Figshare: https://figshare.com/s/beaebfab3df84106f1b9
99. Otero, A., Allen, V., Pol, D., Hutchinson, J.R. 2017. Forelimb muscle and joint actions in Archosauria: insights from Crocodylus johnstoni (Pseudosuchia) and Mussaurus patagonicus (Sauropodomorpha). PeerJ 5:e3976. doi: 10.7717/peerj.3976 Models available at Figshare: https://figshare.com/articles/Crocodylus_musculoskeletal_models/4928696 and https://figshare.com/articles/Mussaurus_musculoskeletal_models/4928684
98. Hu, X., Charles, J.P., Akay, T., Hutchinson, J.R., Blemker, S.S. 2017. Are mice good models for human neuromuscular disease? Comparing muscle excursions in walking between mice and humans. Skeletal Muscle 7:26. doi: 10.1186/s13395-017-0143-9
97. Molnar, J., Diogo, R., Hutchinson, J.R., Pierce, S.E. 2018. Reconstructing pectoral appendicular muscle anatomy in fossil fish and tetrapods over the fins-to-limbs transition. Biological Reviews 93:1077-1107. doi: 10.1111/brv.12386
96. Felder, A.A., Phillips, C., Cornish, H., Cooke, M., Hutchinson, J.R., Doube, M. 2017. Secondary osteons scale allometrically in the mammalian humerus and femur. Royal Society Open Science 4:170431. doi: 10.1091/rsos.170431
95. Regnault, S., Allen, V., Chadwick, K.P., Hutchinson, J.R. 2017. Analysis of the moment arms and kinematics of ostrich (Struthio camelus) double patellar sesamoids. Journal of Experimental Zoology A 327:163-171. doi: 10.1002/jez.2082
94. Macaulay, S., Hutchinson, J.R., Bates, K.T. 2017. A quantitative evaluation of physical and digital approaches to centre of mass estimation. Journal of Anatomy 231:758-775. doi: 10.1111/joa.12667
93. Bishop, P. J., Clemente, C. J., Weems, R. E., Graham, D. F., Lamas, L. P., Hutchinson, J. R., Rubenson, J., Wilson, R. S., Hocknull, S. A., Barrett, R. S., Lloyd, D. G. 2017. Using step width to compare locomotor biomechanics between extinct, non-avian theropod dinosaurs and modern obligate bipeds. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 14:20170276. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0276 Data available at Figshare: https://figshare.com/articles/Supplementary_Material_from_Using_step_width_to_compare_locomotor_biomechanics_between_extinct_non-avian_theropod_dinosaurs_and_modern_obligate_bipeds/5166394
92. Allen, V.R., Kambic, R.E., Gatesy, S.M., Hutchinson, J.R. 2017. Gearing effects of the patella (knee extensor muscle sesamoid) of the helmeted guineafowl during terrestrial locomotion. Journal of Zoology 303:178-187. doi: 10.1111/jzo.12485 Code available at Figshare: https://figshare.com/articles/Matlab_code_to_reconstruct_3D_paths_of_muscle_lines-of-action/5107171
91. Chadwick, K.P., Shefelbine, S.J., Pitsillides, A.A., Hutchinson, J.R. 2017. Finite-element modelling of mechanobiological factors influencing sesamoid tissue morphology in the patellar tendon of an ostrich. Royal Society Open Science 4:170133. doi: 10.1098/rsos.170133 Data available at Figshare: https://figshare.com/projects/Finite_element_modelling_of_the_patellar_tendon_of_an_ostrich_Struthio_camelus_data/18715
90. Pollard, A., Charlton, B., Hutchinson, J.R., Gustafsson, T., McGonnell, I., Timmons, J., Pitsillides, A. 2017. Limb proportions show developmental plasticity in response to embryo movement. Scientific Reports 7:41926. doi: 10.1038/srep41926
89. Cuff, A.R., Goswami, A., Hutchinson, J.R. 2017. Reconstruction of the musculoskeletal system in an extinct lion. Palaeontologia Electronica 20.2.23A:1-25. link
88. Davies, T.G., Rahman, I.A., Lautenschlager, S., Cunningham, J.A., Asher, R.J., Barrett, P.M., Bates, K.T., Bengtson, S., Benson, R.B.J., Boyer, D.M., Braga, J., Bright, J.A., Claessens, L.P.A.M., Cox, P.G., Dong, X.-P., Evans, A.R., Falkingham, P.L., Friedman, M., Garwood, R.J., Goswami, A., Hutchinson, J.R., Jeffery, N.S., Johanson, Z., Lebrun, R., Martínez-Pérez, C., Marugán-Lobón, J., O'Higgins, P.M., Metscher, B., Orliac, M., Rowe, T.B., Rücklin, M., Sánchez-Villagra, M.R., Shubin, N.H., Smith, S.Y., Starck, J.M., Stringer, C., Summers, A.P., Sutton, M.D., Walsh, S.A., Weisbecker, V., Witmer, L.M., Wroe, S., Yin, Z., Rayfield, E.J., Donoghue, P.C.J. 2017. Open data and digital morphology. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: 20170194. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0194
87. Jiang, B., Zhao, T., Regnault, S., Edwards, N.P., Kohn, S.C., Li, Z., Wogelius, R.A., Benton, M., Hutchinson, J.R. 2017. Cellular preservation of musculoskeletal specializations in the Cretaceous bird Confuciusornis. Nature Communications 8:14779. doi: 10.1038/NCOMMS14779 Data available at Figshare: https://figshare.com/projects/Confuciusornis_soft_tissue_study_in_Nature_Communications_2017-_data/18682
86. Samuels, M., Regnault, S., Hutchinson, J.R. 2017. Evolution of the patellar sesamoid bone in mammals. PeerJ 5:e3103. doi: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3103
85. Regnault, S., Dixon, J.J.I., Warren-Smith, C., Hutchinson, J.R., Weller, R. 2016. Skeletal pathology and variable anatomy in elephant feet assessed using computed tomography. PeerJ 5:e2877. doi: 10.7717/peerj.2877
84. Regnault, S., Hutchinson, J.R., Jones, M.E.H. 2017. Sesamoid bones in tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) investigated with X-ray microtomography, and implications for sesamoid evolution in Lepidosauria. Journal of Morphology 278:62-72. doi:10.1002/jmor.20619 Data available at: https://osf.io/bds35/
83. Randau, M., Cuff, A.R., Hutchinson, J.R., Pierce, S.E., Goswami, A. 2016. Regional differentiation of felid vertebral column evolution: a study of 3D shape trajectories. Organisms Diversity & Evolution (2016) 1-15. doi:10.1007/s13127-016-0304-4
82. Panagiotopoulou, O., Pataky, T.C., Day, M., Hensman, M.C., Hensman, S., Hutchinson, J.R., Clemente, C.J. 2016. Foot pressure distributions during walking in African elephants (Loxodonta africana). Royal Society Open Science 3: 160203. doi: 10.1098/rsos.160203
81. Panagiotopoulou, O., Rankin, J.W., Gatesy, S.M., Hutchinson, J.R. 2016. A preliminary case study of the effect of shoe-wearing on the biomechanics of a horse’s foot. PeerJ 4: e2164. doi: 10.7717/peerj.2164
80. Bates, K.T., Mannion, P.D., Falkingham, P.L., Brusatte, S.L., Hutchinson, J.R., Otero, A., Sellers, W.I., Sullivan, C., Stevens, K.A., Allen, V. 2016. Temporal and phylogenetic evolution of the sauropod dinosaur body plan. Royal Society Open Science 3: 150636. doi: 10.1098/rsos.150636
79. Randau, M., Goswami, A., Hutchinson, J.R., Cuff, A.R., Pierce, S.E. 2016. Cryptic complexity in felid vertebral evolution: shape differentiation and allometry of the axial skeleton. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 178:183-202. doi: 10.1111/zoj.12403
78. Rankin, J.W., Rubenson, J., Hutchinson, J.R. 2016. Inferring muscle functional roles of the ostrich pelvic limb during walking and running using computer optimization. Journal of the Royal Society- Interface 20160035. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2016.0035. Data available at Dryad: http://datadryad.org/resource/doi:10.5061/dryad.fh3h6 and https://simtk.org/projects/ostrichopensim
77. Charles, J.P., Cappellari, O., Spence, A.J., Wells, D.J., Hutchinson, J.R. 2016. Muscle moment arms and sensitivity analysis of a mouse hindlimb musculoskeletal model. Journal of Anatomy 229:514–535. doi: 10.1111/joa.12461 Model available at: https://simtk.org/projects/mousehindlimb
76. Charles, J.P., Cappellari, O., Spence, A.J., Hutchinson, J.R., Wells, D.J. 2016. Musculoskeletal geometry, muscle architecture and functional specialisations of the mouse hindlimb. PLOS One 11(4): e0147669. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147669
75. Cuff, A.R., Sparkes, E.L., Randau, M., Pierce, S.E., Kitchener, A.C., Goswami, A. and Hutchinson, J.R. 2016. The scaling of postcranial muscles in cats (Felidae) I: forelimb, cervical, and thoracic muscles. Journal of Anatomy 229:128–141. doi: 10.1111/joa.12477
74. Cuff, A.R., Sparkes, E.L., Randau, M., Pierce, S.E., Kitchener, A.C., Goswami, A. and Hutchinson, J.R. 2016. The scaling of postcranial muscles in cats (Felidae) II: hindlimb and lumbosacral muscles. Journal of Anatomy 229:142–152. doi: 10.1111/joa.12474
73. Regnault, S., Jones, M.E.H., Pitsillides, A.A. Hutchinson, J.R. 2016. Anatomy, morphology and evolution of the patella in squamate lizards and tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus). Journal of Anatomy 228: 864–876. doi: 10.1111/joa.12435
72. Basu, C., Falkingham, P.L., Hutchinson, J.R. 2016. The extinct, giant giraffid Sivatherium giganteum: skeletal reconstruction and body mass estimation. Biology Letters 20150940. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2015.0940. Open database provided at: http://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.83367
71. Neves, D.P., Abdanan Mehdizadeh, S., Banhazi, T.M., Hutchinson, J.R., Nääs, I.A. 2015. The effects of feed particle size on feeding kinematics in young broiler chickens. In: 7th European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming, 2015, Milan. Precision Livestock farming '15. Milan: Guarino, M.; Berckmans, pp. 801-810.
70. Molnar, J., Pierce, S.E., Bhullar, B.-A.S., Turner, A.H., Hutchinson, J.R. 2015. Morphological and functional changes in the vertebral column with increasing aquatic adaptation in crocodylomorphs. Royal Society Open Science 2: 150439. doi: 10.1098/rsos.150439 Open database provided at: http://morphomuseum.com/articles/view/17
69. Houssaye, A., Waskow, K., Hayashi, S., Cornette, R., Lee, A.H., Hutchinson, J.R. 2015. Biomechanical evolution of solid bones in large animals: a microanatomical investigation. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 117:350–371. doi: 10.1111/bij.12660
68. Cuff, A.R., Randau, M., Head, J., Hutchinson, J.R., Pierce, S.E., Goswami, A. 2015. Big cat, small cat: Reconstructing body size evolution in living and extinct Felidae. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 28:1516-1525. doi: 10.1111/jeb.12671
67. Hutchinson, J.R., Rankin, J.W., Rubenson, J., Rosenbluth, K.H., Siston, R.A., Delp, S.L. 2015. Musculoskeletal modelling of an ostrich (Struthio camelus) pelvic limb: Influence of limb orientation on muscular capacity during locomotion. PeerJ 3:e1001. https://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1001
66. Chadwick, K.P., Regnault, S., Allen, V., Hutchinson, J.R. 2014. Three-dimensional anatomy of the ostrich (Struthio camelus) knee joint. PeerJ 2:e706. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.706
65. Lamas, L., Main, R.P., Hutchinson, J.R. 2014. Ontogenetic scaling patterns and functional anatomy of the pelvic limb musculature in emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae). PeerJ 2:e716. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.716
64. Regnault, S., Pitsillides, A.A., Hutchinson, J.R. 2014. Structure, ontogeny and evolution of the patellar tendon in emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) and other palaeognath birds. PeerJ 2:e711. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.711
63. Dudley, R.J., Wood, S.P., Hutchinson, J.R., Weller, R. 2014. Radiographic protocol and normal anatomy of the hind feet in the White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound, online. doi: 10.1111/vru.12215
62. Allen, V., Molnar, J., Pollard, A. *, Nolan, G. *, Hutchinson, J.R. 2014. Comparative architectural properties of limb muscles in Crocodylidae and Alligatoridae and their relevance to divergent use of asymmetrical gaits in extant Crocodylia. Journal of Anatomy 225: 569-582. [Cover image; also Journal of Anatomy Runner-Up Best Paper Prize, 2014] doi: 10.1111/joa.12245
61. Tickle, P.G., Paxton, H., Rankin, J.W., Hutchinson, J.R., Codd, J.R. 2014. Anatomical and biomechanical traits of broiler chickens across ontogeny. Part I. Anatomy of the musculoskeletal respiratory apparatus and changes in organ size. PeerJ 2:e432 http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.432
60. Paxton, H., Tickle, P.G., Rankin, J.W., Codd, J.R., Hutchinson, J.R. 2014. Anatomical and biomechanical traits of broiler chickens across ontogeny. Part II. Body segment inertial properties and muscle architecture of the pelvic limb. PeerJ 2:e473 http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.473
59. Molnar, J., Pierce, S.E., Hutchinson, J.R. 2014. An experimental and morphometric test of the relationship between vertebral morphology and joint stiffness in Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus). Journal of Experimental Biology 217: 757-768. doi: 10.1242/jeb.089904
58. Regnault, S. *, Hermes R., Hildebrandt, T., Hutchinson. J.R., Weller, R. 2013. Osteopathology in the feet of rhinoceroses: Lesion type and distribution. Journal of Zoo & Wildlife Medicine 44: 918-927. http://dx.doi.org/10.1638/2012-0277R1.1 2014 best paper winner (Linda Munson Pathology Manuscript Award)
57. Qian, Z., Ren, L., Ding, Y., Hutchinson J.R., Ren, L. 2013. A dynamic finite element analysis of human foot complex in the sagittal plane during level walking. PLoS ONE 8(11): e79424. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079424
56. Paxton, H., Daley, M.A., Corr, S.A., Hutchinson, J.R. 2013. The gait dynamics of the modern broiler chicken: A cautionary tale of selective breeding. Journal of Experimental Biology 216: 3237-3248. doi: 10.1242/jeb.080309
55. Pittman, M., Gatesy, S.M., Upchurch, P., Goswami, A., Hutchinson, J.R. 2013. Shake a tail feather: the evolution of the theropod tail into a stiff aerodynamic surface. PLOS ONE 8(5): e63115. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063115
54. Pierce, S.E., Hutchinson, J.R., Clack, J.A. 2013. Historical perspectives on the evolution of tetrapodomorph movement. Integrative and Comparative Biology 53: 209-223. doi: 10.1093/icb/ict022 Free access available at: http://icb.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/ict022?ijkey=F2ekjzMTxcsQEFG&keytype=ref
53. Allen, V.A., Bates, K.T., Li, Z., Hutchinson, J.R. 2013. Linking the evolution of body shape and locomotor biomechanics in bird-line archosaurs. Nature 497:104–107. doi:10.1038/nature12059 (explanatory blog post here http://whatsinjohnsfreezer.com/2013/04/24/3d_dinosaurs/ and webpage here http://www.rvc.ac.uk/SML/Projects/Evolution3DDinos.cfm). Open database provided at: Dryad Digital Repository- doi: 10.5061/dryad.hh74n
52. Schachner, E.R., Hutchinson, J.R., Farmer, C.G. 2013. Pulmonary anatomy in the Nile crocodile and the evolution of unidirectional airflow in Archosauria. PeerJ 1:e60 http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.60 Open database
Prof. Hutchinson teaches in the BSc/Gateway 1st year course's "Inheritance, Genetics and Evolution" module and the 3rd year BSc course's "Comparative Animal Locomotion" module as well as intermittent teaching elsewhere. His team regularly supervises undergraduate and MSc/MRes student research projects. Potential project students are encouraged to contact him to explore options.
Prof. Hutchinson is passionate about science communication as a vital part of what scientists do for science, for society and for fun.
John regularly participates in science communication events worldwide, both in person and via the internet. His research has been featured in over 500 online/print news stories since 2002, and his team's work has appeared in 18 major TV documentaries including the BAFTA award-winning original "Inside Nature's Giants" programme, the 2015 hit "T. rex Autopsy" and the 2016 smash "Attenborough and the Giant Dinosaur" as well as 2018's "Attenborough and the Giant Elephant", "The Real T. rex With Chris Packham" and Hannibal's Elephant Army: The New Evidence". He was the 2012 winner of the British Science Festival's Charles Darwin Award. John also actively communicates science via social networking such as his personal Twitter account.
John runs a science-related personal blog, too: What's In John's Freezer? And his team has an anatomy blog/social media accounts for general audiences “Anatomy to You”: http://anatomytoyou.com/, Twitter @AnatomyToYou (started in 2016).
He also co-wrote a blog post on "Self-promotion: shamelessly selfish or shamefully misunderstood?" Another of his posts, on the recent revival and general popularity of anatomical research, gained wide popularity. Science writer Ed Yong's posts on his team's dissection of a komodo dragon and study of the waddling gaits of penguins are excellent representations of their research.
MUSEUM EXHIBITS
Prof. Hutchinson was a consultant on Theropod Biomechanics at the American Museum of Natural History's "Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries" exhibit, still touring other museums since 2004.
He is also the Chief Paleontology Advisor for the wonderfully interactive "Be the Dinosaur" exhibit, also touring museums in the USA; since 2005: Be the Dinosaur.
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3D modelling reveals how Tyrannosaurus rex grew
People: John Hutchinson, Vivian Allen
New research by Professor John R. Hutchinson and colleagues on Tyrannosaurus rex shows it was bigger and faster-growing than previously thought, and had some of the largest leg muscles of any land animal known.
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Are fast moving elephants really running?
People: John Hutchinson
New research solves a long standing mystery about elephant speeds by clocking the animals at 15 miles per hour. That's faster than reliable observations of 10 mph top speeds but slower than speculations of 25 mph. But do fast-moving elephants really "run"?
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Assessing the limb mobility of the early four-legged vertebrate animal Ichthyostega
People: John Hutchinson
Research funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, by researchers at the RVC and Cambridge, and published in the journal Nature, has revealed how the early four-legged vertebrate (tetrapod) called Ichthyostega, moved on land.
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BBC Horizon Cats
People: Alan Wilson, John Hutchinson, Andrew Cuff
Specialising in locomotion and hunting behaviour of wild animals in southern Africa, our researchers know more about the lifestyle of many wild cats than the humble domestic moggy. They decided to find out more about how Britain's cats spend their days...
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Biomechanical research reveals elephants move like 4x4 vehicles
People: John Hutchinson
SML have discovered that elephant limbs function quite unlike those of other animals.
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DAWNDINOS: ‘Testing the locomotor superiority hypothesis for early dinosaurs’
People: John Hutchinson, Andrew Cuff, Krijn Michel, Peter Bishop, Louise Kermode
“DAWNDINOS” is a five year research project studying the dawn of the age of the dinosaurs, funded by the European Research Council via an Advanced Investigator Grant to Professor Hutchinson. It focusses on form and function and combines evolutionary and biomechanical research that tests how the anatomy of extinct dinosaurs and their relatives (archosaurs; “ruling reptiles”) was related to their movement and behaviour.
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Dinosaur locomotion: beyond the bones
People: John Hutchinson
In films, dinosaur locomotion is a result of clever software and the artistic interpretation of special effects departments. Now scientists are using improved software tools that have a firm grounding in physical principles, rather than artistic intuition, to test their own hypotheses on how dinosaurs walked the Earth.
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Elephants get a ‘sixth toe’ for Christmas... after a 300 year wait
People: John Hutchinson, Andrew Pitsillides
Professor John Hutchinson and colleagues have published a new paper in Science magazine showing how elephants have evolved a remarkably bizarre false sixth "toe" in their four feet.
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Evolution of dinosaur body shape and locomotion
People: John Hutchinson, Vivian Allen
An RVC-based team of researchers including Vivian Allen and John Hutchinson have revealed how the enlargement of the forelimbs changed the balance system of dinosaurs, causing them to adopt more crouched leg postures as in modern birds; published in Nature. RVC's story here and blog here.
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Robotic Paleontology
People: John Hutchinson, Vivian Allen
An international group of scientists including Professor John Hutchinson and Dr Vivian Allen has constructed a robot, which is able to recreate how a 300 million-year old animal would have walked. This pioneering project is key to enhancing our understanding of how vertebrates first evolved to walk on land. The findings are a result of a collaboration between teams from the EPFL in Switzerland, Humboldt University of Berlin and the Royal Veterinary College.
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Tyrannosaurus was not a fast runner
People: John Hutchinson
King of the Cretaceous, Tyrannosaurus rex stood on two powerful hind limbs and terrorized potential prey with its elephantine size and lethal jaws. The dinosaur was big and bad. But was it fast?