Tag: genetics
-
Using unsorted sweep-net samples to rapidly assess macroinvertebrate biodiversity
Words: Melissa Carew Freshwater invertebrates are the insects, snails, clams, mites, crustaceans, and worms that inhabit streams, rivers, ponds and wetlands. They play an important role in understanding the health of our freshwater environments. The biodiversity of invertebrates present in freshwaters is routinely used by water managers to assess the ecological condition and feeds into […] -
Improving mosquito control strategies with population genomics
Words: Tom Schmidt When researchers want to investigate evolutionary processes like adaptation and dispersal, they frequently make use of population genomic methods. Population genomics uses DNA data from across an organism’s entire genome – that is, across all of that organism’s DNA. This DNA data can be compared with DNA from other organisms, which can […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/pearg/2021/06/28/improving-mosquito-control-strategies-with-population-genomics
-
Fly infertility shows we’re underestimating how badly climate change harms animals
Belinda van Heerwaarden, The University of Melbourne and Ary Hoffmann, The University of Melbourne Evidence of declining fertility in humans and wildlife is growing. While chemicals in our environment have been identified as a major cause, our new research shows there’s another looming threat to animal fertility: climate change. We know animals can die when […] -
Variety is the spice of life… and key to saving wildlife
“This article was first published on Pursuit. Read the original article.” Dr Andrew Weeks and Professor Ary Hoffmann In the critical battle against extinction, conservationists use a variety of tactics to try to save species. One of the most fundamental tools is maintaining the amount of variation of genetic material (DNA) in a group of […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/pearg/2021/06/10/variety-is-the-spice-of-life-and-key-to-saving-wildlife
-
Graduate researcher life in lockdown(s)
Words and images: Véronique Paris and Christin Manthey Illustraions: Marianne Coquilleau Doing a PhD in science is a challenge in itself. Developing and managing your own project, learning to be a “real” research scientist rather than a student, working on experiments, collecting data, applying for funding … that’s all part of the deal. However, 2020 […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/pearg/2020/10/27/graduate-researcher-life-in-lockdowns
-
Targeting the bacteria inside insects for improved pest management
This article was first published on Pursuit. Read the original article Francesca Noakes and Professor Ary Hoffmann Any home gardener knows of the long-running battle against insect pests. The little critters that sneak into your garden beds and strip leaves are irritating among prized kale, but for farmers these tiny pests can have devastating economic […] -
Tracking the movement of mosquito stowaways
This article was first published on Pursuit. Read the original article Dr Tom Schmidt Everyone knows mosquitoes can fly. Not everyone knows they fly in pressurised cabins 10,000 metres above the ocean. In fact, many of the most dangerous mosquito species get flown all over the world in aeroplanes, or travel on boats or other […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/pearg/2020/08/05/tracking-the-movement-of-mosquito-stowaways
-
New Pursuit article – Have resistance, will travel
This article was first published on Pursuit. Read the original article here. Authors: Dr Nancy Endersby-Harshman, Dr Qiong Yang, Dr Tom Schmidt and Professor Ary Hoffmann Around the world, pest insects – like mosquitoes – often become resistant to the insecticides meant to control them, causing problems for agriculture and public health. Resistance in multiple populations […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/pearg/2020/05/28/new-pursuit-article-have-resistance-will-travel
-
Moshe Jasper: Humans of BioSciences
Meet Moshe Jasper, Research Assistant in PEARG. Moshe shares what inspired him to become a scientist and what he wishes he had known when he was an undergraduate student. What is it like to work in PEARG ? The Pest & Environmental Adaptation Research Group undertakes research on adaptation of organisms (particularly invertebrates) to environmental […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/pearg/2020/04/24/moshe-jasper-humans-of-biosciences
-
What can cattle teach us about evolution?
Ary Hoffmann Charles Darwin in his On the Origin of Species used data from domestic animals to argue for the power of natural selection in changing phenotypes. These included examples from birds and dogs as well as livestock. The latter having been selected across many years to increase productive yields such as milk and meat. […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/pearg/2020/04/17/what-can-cattle-teach-us-about-evolution
Number of posts found: 22