New Chair appointed to Genetics Mātai Ira Governance Board
Dr Michelle Thunders has been appointed Chair of the Genetics Mātai Ira Governance Board. The board oversees both Genetics Otago and the Genetics Teaching Programme. Dr Thunders replaces outgoing Chair Professor Greg Jones who we thank for his contribution to the board over the past 7 years.
Read more on the University of Otago Bulletin Board.
Ulcer patch first in Department of Physiology to receive Smart Ideas funding
Genetics Otago member Associate Professor Rajesh Katare has received Smart Idea funding from MBIE to research the development of a novel, multi-use, off-the-shelf, biodegradable ulcer patch as an advanced wound-care product.
Read more on the University of Otago Bulletin Board.
Mystery of extinct fish unravelled
Nearly 100 years after its last confirmed sighting, University of Otago researchers, including Genetics Otago member Dr Nic Rawlence, have revealed the genealogical story of the upokororo or New Zealand grayling.
Read more via the University of Otago News
Publication details
Ancient DNA from the extinct New Zealand grayling (Prototroctes oxyrhynchus) reveals evidence for Miocene marine dispersal
Lachie Scarsbrook, Kieren J. Mitchell, Matthew D. McGee, Gerard P. Closs, and Nicolas J. Rawlence
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
Efficient species monitoring method proves worth in Otago study
Genetic information is a critical part of conservation research but has proven invasive and costly – until now. Find out more about how Genetics Otago Member Dr Clare Adams has used eDNA to help monitor pāua colonies.
Full story in this media release.
PhD candidate Jordon Lima on reclaiming te reo Māori
PhD candidate and Genetics Otago member Jordon Lima believes that learning te reo Māori enables her and her whānau to reclaim and restore more than just their language, but also their culture, tikanga and Māori way of thinking.
Read more from the University of Otago Communications Office.
Researchers scoop top national awards at Queenstown conference
Genetics Otago researcher Associate Professor Aniruddha Chatterjee, of the Department of Pathology, received the Thermo Fisher Scientific Award for excellence in molecular biology during Queenstown Research Week.
Read more on the University of Otago Bulletin Board.
Congratulations Aniruddha!
Talented early career researchers recognised
Six University of Otago researchers, including Genetics Otago member Dr Anna Gosling, (Anatomy), have had their efforts recognised with Early Career Researcher Awards. These awards recognise outstanding research achievements by early career staff.
Read more on the University of Otago Bulletin Board.
Congratulations Anna!
Parental experience helps future generations handle adverse environments
Genetics Otago Member and lead authour Dr Sheri Johnson along with her team, have found that zebrafish fathers who were exposed to low oxygen levels in water passed information on to their offspring to help them cope in such conditions.
Find out more via the University of Otago News.
Publication details:
Paternal hypoxia exposure primes offspring for increased hypoxia resistance.
Alexandria Ragsdale, Oscar Ortega Recalde, Ludovic Dutoit, Anne A. Besson, Jolyn H. Z. Chia, Tania King, Shinichi Nakagawa, Anthony Hickey, Neil J. Gemmell, Timothy Hore and Sheri L. Johnson
BMC Biology
PhD graduate encourages Pacific peoples to pursue passion for science
Genetics Otago member, Dr Jaye Moors, is honoured to be the first Pacific student to graduate with a PhD in Biochemistry from Otago, but she certainly hopes she’s not the last.
Read more in the University of Otago postgraduate bulletin board.
Congratulations Jaye!
DNA reveals history of Aotearoa’s manu
Pascale Lubbe, a PhD candidate in the Department of Anatomy, and Genetics Otago member is the lead author of a paper detailing the evolutionary history of kōkako, huia, and tīeke saddlebacks which were previously shrouded in mystery.
Read more in the University of Otago media release
Publication Details:
Mitogenomes resolve the phylogeography and divergence times within the endemic New Zealand Callaeidae (Aves: Passerida)
Pascale Lubbe, Nicolas J. Rawlence, Olga Kardailsky, Bruce C. Robertson, Robert Day, Michael Knapp, Nicolas Dussex
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
