Genomics Aotearoa

Science Horror-scopes: December

Peter Dearden • Dec 03, 2010

• Science Horror-scopes

By Doc. Chaos I see spring cleaning in your future — lab stylz. Yeah, that means cleaning 10 years worth of baked-on agarose out of the microwave. I know the specific date — but won’t tell, we don’t want you to turn up mysteriously sick that day do we? . Read More

Phishing Flowers

Peter Dearden • Dec 02, 2010

• SM Morgan

SM Morgan It is surprising how often technology mimics nature, and in the most subtle of ways. Take for example the phenomenon of email phishing — a probe is sent out to entice the recipient with something they want/need; for example, a MillionDollars!, an OnlineEasyDoctorate! or a ready supply of CheapDrugs! Once enticed, the source gets something it needs … Read More

Congratulations!

Peter Dearden • Nov 19, 2010

• awards

Belatedly Genetics Otago would like to congratulate three GO members who won awards at the recent NZ Research Honours Evening. Prof Warren Tate won the Rutherford Medal for his outstanding work … Read More

This Week in Science History: 1-11-10

Peter Dearden • Nov 04, 2010

• Megan Leask,
• science history

Megan Leask, PhD Student, Laboratory for Evolution and Development Polio Virus is Crystallized — 1955 In 1955, on the 2nd of November American sciemtists Carlton Schwerdt and F.L. Schaffer crystallized the polio virus. This was the first animal virus to be obtained in crystalline form. (The first plant … Read More

1

Science Horror-scopes: November

Peter Dearden • Nov 01, 2010

• Science Horror-scopes

By Doc. Chaos You will find out 50% of your genes have been mislabelled: you have actually been cloning the ‘pig head’ region of the genome. Not at all related to your work really. What a waste of time! . . Your supervisor/boss … Read More

3

Interview with a Science Communicator – Sophia McKay

Peter Dearden • Oct 28, 2010

• science communication,
• SM Morgan

By SM Morgan. This week I have something exciting in store — a non-science person answers my multitude of questions. Camera shy Sophia, hard at work in her office. Sophia McKay is currently the publicity manager for Genetics Otago (GO) and has been with us now for almost 2 years. Read More

This Week in Science History: 25-10-10

Peter Dearden • Oct 27, 2010

• Megan Leask,
• science history

Megan Leask, PhD Student, Laboratory for Evolution and Development Marian Koshland Born 25 Oct 1921; died 28 Oct 1997. Koshland was an American immunologist who discovered that the differences in amino acid composition of antibodies explains the efficiency and effectiveness with which they combat a huge range of foreign … Read More

The collapse of both bees and scientific independence.

Peter Dearden • Oct 21, 2010

• colony collapse disorder,
• honeybee,
• microsporidian,
• Peter Dearden,
• scientific independence,
• virus

Assoc Prof Peter K. Dearden To humans, the most important insect on earth is the honeybee. Honeybees provide honey, wax, venom and royal … Read More

7

This Week in Science History: 18-10-10

Peter Dearden • Oct 18, 2010

• Megan Leask,
• science history

Megan Leask, PhD student, Laboratory for Evolution and Development Queen of the Flies – Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard is born 20 Oct 1942 Expression of the Engrailed protein (one of the genes identified by Nüsslein-Volhard) in an aphid embryo. The protein is labeled with a … Read More

This Week in Science History: 11-10-10

Peter Dearden • Oct 14, 2010

• science history,
• Tamsin Jones

Tamsin Jones, Laboratory for Evolution and Development Theodor Heinrich Boveri — Born 12 October 1862, died 15 October 1915 Theodor Boveri Boveri, a German biologist, was one of the first scientists to show that chromosomes are the units of inheritance. He discovered in his work on sea … Read More