Richard Gordon

Richard "Dick" Gordon (Nov. 6 1943–June 14, 2026) was an American theoretical biologist whose research spanned developmental biology, medical imaging, mathematical biology, and astrobiology. He was a professor at the University of Manitoba from 1978 to 2011 and later held an adjunct position at Wayne State University. His research included computed tomography and image reconstruction, embryonic development and morphogenesis, diatom biology, and interdisciplinary applications of mathematics and physics to biological systems.

Education

Gordon studied at the University of Chicago, where he completed an undergraduate degree in mathematics. He subsequently earned a PhD in chemical physics at the University of Oregon under Terrell L. Hill. His dissertation was titled On Stochastic Growth and Form and Steady State Properties of Ising Lattice Membranes. He did postdoctoral work with Robert Rosen (biologist) at the University of Buffalo and in the 'Mathematical Biology in Arthritis' and 'Image Processing in Cancer' sections at the National Institute of Health, before he moved to Winnipeg in 1978 Gordon published his first scientific paper, on stochastic growth and form, in 1966.

Academic career

Gordon joined the University of Manitoba in 1978 and remained there until his retirement in 2011. His work was interdisciplinary, drawing on mathematics, physics, engineering, chemistry, computation, and biology.

Following his retirement from University of Manitoba, Gordon continued his scientific work through several affiliations. He volunteered as a consulting scientist at the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory in Panacea, Florida, and later held an adjunct appointment in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Wayne State University.

Gordon also appeared before committees of the Parliament of Canada as an expert scientific witness. His testimony included subjects related to health policy and the organization and peer review of scientific research.

Research

Computed tomography and medical imaging

Gordon was an early researcher in computational methods for tomographic image reconstruction. In 1970, with Robert Bender and Gabor Herman, he published Algebraic Reconstruction Techniques (ART) for three-dimensional electron microscopy and x-ray photography, describing the Algebraic Reconstruction Technique for reconstructing images from projection data.

Gordon continued working on medical imaging and image-processing methods. With R.M. Rangayyan, he investigated adaptive-neighborhood techniques for enhancing film mammograms. With A.P. Dhawan and Rangayyan, he also studied three-dimensional computed tomography of nevi and melanomas using transillumination.

His later work addressed breast-imaging strategies, including proposals for improved detection and imaging of premetastatic breast cancer.

Near the end of his career, Gordon collaborated with Syed Hussain Ather on steerable ray-by-ray computed tomography (RBYRCT), an approach investigating adaptive X-ray acquisition and reconstruction for breast imaging. Their work included research publications and a U.S. patent application concerning electronically steerable X-ray imaging. Gordon and Ather also edited the book Steerable Ray-by-Ray X-Ray Computed Tomography: A Plan to End Breast Cancer. Gordon and Ather also co-founded Janus Sphere Innovations, a company established to further develop their work in adaptive medical imaging.

Developmental and theoretical biology

A substantial part of Gordon's research concerned biological form and the physical mechanisms of embryonic development. He investigated subjects including embryology, neurulation, cytoskeletal mechanics, tissue morphogenesis, and neural tube defects.

Gordon reviewed competing theories of vertebrate neurulation and their relationships to the mechanics of neural tube defects. With G.W. Brodland, he studied cytoskeletal mechanics during brain morphogenesis. Related work examined mechanical surface-contraction waves during neural induction in amphibian embryos.

His theoretical work on development also included the concept of embryonic differentiation waves, which became the subject of later articles and books.

Diatoms and biotechnology

Gordon conducted extensive research on diatom biology, including morphogenesis and possible technological applications of their highly structured silica shells. In work with B.D. Aguda, he described diatom morphogenesis in the context of naturally fabricated complex microstructures.

He later coauthored reviews examining potential applications of diatoms in nanotechnology. His research on algae also included possible applications in sustainable biofuel production.

Astrobiology and origins of life

Gordon also published on astrobiology and questions concerning the origins, evolution, and distribution of life. His work included consideration of the habitability of the universe before the formation of Earth and broader questions about the possibility and transport of biological material beyond Earth.

Research policy, medicine and ethics

Gordon wrote about scientific policy, research organization, and ethical questions surrounding science and medicine.

With B.J. Poulin, he analyzed the cost and structure of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada's peer-review system.

He also published a critical review of the declining role of physician-scientists.

Other subjects in his publications included HIV/AIDS prevention and social ethics.

Books

Gordon authored and edited books across developmental biology and other areas of his research.

Among his books were:

Gordon, R. (1999). The Hierarchical Genome and Differentiation Waves: Novel Unification of Development, Genetics and Evolution. World Scientific and Imperial College Press. Gordon, N.; Gordon, R. (2016). Embryogenesis Explained. World Scientific. . Gordon, R.; Ather, S.H., eds. Steerable Ray-by-Ray X-Ray Computed Tomography: A Plan to End Breast Cancer. Scrivener Publishing.

Personal Life

Gordon was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1943, the eldest son of Jack Gordon, a salesman and American handball champion, and artist Diana Gordon. He was married to fellow scientist Natalie K Björklund with whom he cowrote his book Embryogenesis Explained and was father of Leland, Bryson and Chason Gordon and Justin, Alan and Lana Hunstad. He lived in Winnipeg from 1978 until he retired in Alonsa, Manitoba in 2018 where he lived until his death on June 14, 2026.

Selected publications

Gordon, R.; Bender, R.; Herman, G.T. (1970). Algebraic Reconstruction Techniques (ART) for three-dimensional electron microscopy and x-ray photography. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 29(3), 471–481.

He began the project after developing an interest in Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks.

Books With Wings brought together Canadian, British, American, and Afghan participants to provide books to universities throughout Afghanistan. The project continued until 2014.

Journalist Sally Armstrong described Gordon's early efforts to establish Books With Wings in her book Ascent of Women.