John Tyler Bonner is a biologist of remarkably broad interests, but he is primarily known for demonstrating the value of the cellular slime molds as model systems for cellular and developmental biology. Bonner's research interests include developmental biology, especially of the cellular slime molds, the role of development in evolution, evolution of culture in animals, and problems of size and complexity in organisms.

Bonner was born in New York City. He earned his bachelor's degree with highest honors in biology from Harvard in 1941. After receiving the M.A. from Harvard in 1942, he served in the U.S. Air Corps until 1946. Returning to Harvard after rising to the rank of First Lieutenant, he earned his Ph.D. in 1947 and joined the faculty of Princeton University. In 1966, Bonner was appointed to the George M. Moffett Professorship. He served as Chairman of the department of Biology and Acting Chairman of the...