January 2009 . ISSUE 60 GENETICSSOCIETY NEWS

www..org.uk

IN THIS ISSUE Genetics Society News is edited by Steve Russell. Items for future • Of Sexual And Asexual issues should be sent to Steve Russell, preferably by email to [email protected], or hard copy to Department of Genetics, Reproduction Meeting University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH. The Newsletter is published twice a year, with copy dates of 1st June and • A Guide To Undergraduate Summer Projects 26th November. • John Thoday: An Appreciation • John Edwards: An Appreciation Two adult strepsipteran females (Family Xenidae) dissected from a Polistes paper wasp. From the fieldwork report by Dino McMahon on page 39 of this issue • My Favourite Paper (Image © D McMahon) • Student Travel and Fieldwork Reports A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

A word from the editor

There is a focus on some more research studentships: we have historical aspects of UK recently increased the stipends genetics in this issue with and the lab expenses for these appreciations of both John awards. Our Postgraduate Thoday and John Edwards, student committee rep, Tom both of whom made important Nowakowski, has written a contributions to the short piece aimed at budding development of genetics young scientists who are research and teaching in considering embarking on a Britain. We also have a short research career. I think it’s report on a remarkable film of useful for group leaders to the 1948 International Genetics consider some of the problems Congress, which was shown in undergraduates face and try Cambridge recently and and encourage them by helping contains the only known them find summer projects or moving images of Ronald funding. Tom’s guide provides Fisher and JBS Haldane. By all some pointers here. accounts it was a fun event, with wizened members of the By the time you receive this it As we reported in the last University shouting out the will be 2009 and the 200th Genetics Society News, there names of people they anniversary of Darwin’s birth. were moves afoot to merge the recognized. There are a huge number of Biosciences Federation and the events around the UK marking Institute of . Both As usual, we have reports from this and the Darwin200 organisations have voted on recent Genetics Society website is a useful guide to this and, as our VP for External meetings including enjoyable what’s on Affairs John Brookfield reports, one-day events on the evolution (http://www.darwin200.org). there are proposals to move of sex and on the contributions is forward and generate a single model organisms can make to sponsoring two events: a one- strong voice for UK bioscience. understanding human disease. day Darwin and Development We also have a crop of student Symposium as part of the 2009 As ever, anything you would reports on the meetings they International Society for like to write about in the attended with the aid of Developmental Biology general area of genetics, Genetics Society sponsorship, Symposium in and science policy or education, several more are available on a joint Genetics Society/Royal please get in touch. the Society website. It’s great Society discussion meeting on to see the enthusiasm radiating Genetics and the Causes of Cheers from these reports and it’s clear Evolution over two days at the that the students, most of Royal Society. Unfortunately whom give poster or oral all may not be quite so rosy in Steve Russell presentations, can get a great the Darwin-fest garden: our University of Cambridge deal out of attending relevant Taxi Driver has some issues conferences. As well as travel with the showbiz-style grants, the Society provides an presentation of museum increasing number of summer exhibitions.

2 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 60 Issue 60 . January 2009 NEWS . FEATURES . REPORTS . LISTINGS

For more details please contact: The Genetics Society . Roslin BioCentre CONTENTS Wallace Building . Roslin . Midlothian . EH25 9PP Tel: 0131 200 6391 . Fax: 0131 200 6394 email: [email protected] Website: www.genetics.org.uk

The Genetics Society Journals Heredity (www.nature.com/hdy/) Managing Editor: Professor Richard A Nichols, School of Biological Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London REGULARS and Development (www.genesdev.org/) European Editor: Winship Herr, Center for Integrative , Meeting Announcements 4 - 9 University of Lausanne, Switzerland Common Disease Genetics President Darwin and Development Prof. Brian Charlesworth, Genetics And The Causes Of Evolution

President-elect External Meetings Diary Prof. Veronica van Heyningen, MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh Genetics Society Business 10 - 14 Vice-Presidents Prof. J. Steve Jones, University College London Sectional Interest Groups Prof. John Brookfield, University of Nottingham 2009 Annual General Meeting Prof. Ian Jackson, MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh The Sir Kenneth Mather Memorial Prize

Honorary Secretary Society grants Prof. Patricia E Kuwabara, University of Bristol Postgraduate Rep News From The Biosciences Federation Honorary Treasurer Prof Josephine Pemberton, University of Edinburgh Genetics Society Meeting Reports 15 - 20 Scientific Meetings Officer Evolution Of Sexual And Asexual Reproduction Dr Andrew Ward, University of Bath Human Genetic Disease: From Model Organism Newsletter Editor to the Clinic. Dr Steve Russell, University of Cambridge

Postgraduate Representative Genetics Society Sponsored Events 21 - 22 Mr Tom Nowakowski, University of Edinburgh 2nd Mammalian Genetics, Development and Disease Meeting Ordinary Committee Members Dr Hilary Ashe, University of Manchester 4th London Fly Meeting Dr Mark A. Beaumont, University of Reading Dr , European Institute Dr Tanita Casci, Nature Reviews Genetics Dr , John Innes Centre, Norwich Dr Alison Dunn, University of Leeds FEATURES Prof. Adam Eyre-Walker, University of Sussex Dr Anne Ferguson-Smith, University of Cambridge Dr DJ de Koning, , Midlothian 1948 International Genetics Congress 23 Prof. Graham Moore, John Innes Centre, Norwich John M Thoday, FRS 24 - 26 Dr Tom Weaver, Medical Solutions PLC John H Edwards, FRS 27 - 30 Dr Tanya Whitfield, University of Sheffield My Favourite Paper 31 - 33 A Taxi Driver Writes 34 - 35 Design Round & Red Creative . 15 Poole Road Woking . Surrey . GU21 6BB Fieldwork and Studentship Reports 36 - 40 Tel: 01483 596 226 . www.roundandred.com New World House Mice Scilly Butterflies

Printing Transylvanian Strepsipterans RPM Print & Design . Spur Road . Quarry Lane Chichester . West Sussex . PO19 8PR . UK Student Travel Reports 41 - 52 Tel: 01243 787 077 . [email protected] Plant Biology 2008 Advertising in Genetics Society News represents an Pig Veterinary Science opportunity to reach a large community of professional geneticists. For rates please email [email protected] Human Variation Complex Traits DNA Replication Auxins 2008

www.genetics.org.uk . 3 SPRING MEETING 2009

Common disease genetics: applying knowledge to health - what’s next?

Friday 8 May 2009 The Royal Society, 6–9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) are an important and exciting new chapter in human genetics research. We now know of well over 200 variants that influence susceptibility to a wide range of complex diseases. But where do we go from here? The aim of this meeting is to look back on the achievements of the past two years and reflect on how knowledge from this first generation of GWASs can be applied to improve human health in the most informed and ethical manner. Importantly, it will also discuss the best direction in which to take future research in this area.

Speakers: Scientific Organisers: Mark Walport (The Wellcome Trust, London, UK). Tanita Casci (Nature Reviews Genetics, London, UK) Complex disease genetics: progress and challenges. Peter Goodfellow (Department of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK) David Clayton (Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, John Todd (Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge, UK). Cambridge, UK) The role of genetic association studies in the study of common complex disease: achievements and limitations. Featuring: The Genetics Society Balfour Lecture 2009 by Matt Hurles Inês Barroso (The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, (The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK). Complex UK). From GWAS hits to new biology – obesity as an disease genetics: widening the focus to all classes of example. variation.

Nazneen Rahman (The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, This meeting will include the Annual General Meeting of the UK). Clinical utility of breast cancer genes: current practice Genetics Society and will conclude with a panel – audience and future prospects. discussion.

Kari Stefansson (deCODE, Reykjavik, Iceland). Registration: The impact of personalised genetic risk information. Registration will be open shortly via the Genetics Society website www.genetics.org.uk Theresa Marteau (Kings College London, London, UK). The risks of knowing genetic risks. Registration fees Members: £30. Non-members (academic): £80 Nick Wareham (MRC Epidemiology Unit, Cambridge, UK). Non-members (non-academic): £135 Life after GWAS — what about the environment? Undergraduate members may attend for free but must register in advance of the meeting. A Genetics Society Symposium in association with ISDB 2009 Darwin and Development 6th - 10th September 2009, Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Scotland.

SESSION 1 – VARIATION AND SELECTION

Variation Under Domestication Elaine Ostrander, USA (dog genetics, evolution and development) John Doebley, USA (domestication of maize from teosinte)

Variation Under Nature Arhat Abzhanov, USA (craniofacial development in Darwin’s Finches) Chris Kuhlemeier, Switzerland (Petunia and pollinator-driven )

SESSION 2 – HOMOLOGY AND ANCESTRY

Mutual Affinities Of Organic Beings Michael Akam, UK

On The Imperfection Of The Geological Record Phil Donoghue, UK

Genes Controlling Dentition and Its Evolution Jukka Jernvall, Finland

Genomics And Developmental Genetics Of Acoel Flatworms: Clues To The Early Evolution Of Metazoa Pedro Martinez, Spain

SCIENTIFIC ORGANISERS Peter Holland, Oxford University and Phil Donoghue, University of Bristol.

The British Society for Developmental Biology will be hosting the International Development meeting in Edinburgh, September 6-10, 2009. As 2009 is the 150th anniversary of the publication of the Origin of Species, the Genetics Society will mark the occasion with a one-day symposium (two sessions) as part of this meeting. for more information please visit www.genetics.org.uk The Genetics Society / Royal Society Discussion Meeting Genetics And The Causes Of Evolution: 150 Years Of Progress Since Darwin

Thursday 12th and Friday 13th November 2009 The Royal Society, Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG

Organisers: Mike Bonsall, University of The meeting will include sessions on: Oxford and Brian Charlesworth, University of in Wild Populations Edinburgh. Natural Selection in Human Populations Speciation The Royal Society and the Genetics Society of Experimental evolution the UK are organizing a two-day Discussion Evolution of Parasites and Hosts Meeting to celebrate the 200th anniversary Evolution of Domesticated Animals and Plants of the birth of Charles Darwin, and the 150th Evolution of Animal and Plant Mating Systems anniversary of the publication of the Origin Evolution of the Genome of Species. In Darwin’s day, a lack of understanding of inheritance meant that the Speakers theory of evolution was incomplete. This Spencer Barrett (University of Toronto, Canada) crucial gap has been filled by over a century Nick Barton University of Edinburgh) of research in genetics. The meeting features Dan Bradley (Trinity College Dublin) leading researchers in evolutionary biology Anthony Brown (CSIRO, Canberra) and will illustrate how genetics has Tracey Chapman (University of East Anglia) contributed to our understanding of the Jerry Coyne (University of Chicago, USA) mechanisms of evolutionary change across a Laurent Duret (University of Lyon, France) wide range of biological systems, from viruses Steven Frank (University of California, Irvine) to humans. Rosemary Grant (Princeton University) Hopi Hoekstra (Harvard University, USA) Ben Kerr (University of Washington, USA) Anna Di Rienzo (University of Chicago, USA) Dolph Schluter (University of British Columbia, Canada) Paul Sharp (University of Edinburgh 7 EXTERNAL MEETINGS DIARY

We will happily include any announcements for genetics-based meetings in this section. Please send any items to the editor. [email protected].

2009 Young Physiologists’ Symposium Keystone Symposium: Genome Instability and 6th – 7th April 2009 DNA Repair University of Sheffield 1st – 6th March 2009 With the theme 'Physiological Signalling: From Genes to Taos, New Mexico, USA Function' this meeting aims to attract a multidisciplinary www.keystonesymposia.org/Meetings/ViewMe audience and encourage the integration of different etings.cfm?MeetingID=979 approaches on all functional levels in physiological research. The symposium will provide an excellent Plant : Genes, Networks & opportunity for young scientists from undergraduate to Applications postdoctoral level to present their work and interact with 4th – 7th March 2009 other researchers at the same stage of their scientific Cold Spring Harbor, USA career. Talks selected from submitted abstracts will be http://meetings.cshl.edu/meetings/plants09.sht accompanied by plenary talks from Francis Ashcroft and ml Mike Hankins. The deadline for registration and abstracts is 1st February 2009. 50th Annual Drosophila Research Conference www.bms.dept.shef.ac.uk/yps/ 4th – 8th March Chicago, IL, USA Gordon Research Conference: Mammalian DNA www.drosophila-conf.org/2009/ index.shtml Repair 8th – 13th February 2009 Annual Conference of the Association for Ventura, CA, USA General and Applied Microbiology www.grc.org/programs.aspx?year=2009&program= 8th - 11th March 2009 mammdna Bochum, Germany www.vaam2009.de/ American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory/Wellcome Trust 12th – 16th February 2009 conference: Genomic Disorders Chicago, IL, USA 9th – 11th March www.aaas.org/meetings/ Hinxton, UK http://firstcontact.hinxton.wellcome.ac.uk/displ Gordon Research Conference: Quantitative Genetics ay_info.asp?id=115 And Genomics 22nd – 27th February 51st Annual Maize Genetics Conference Galveston, TX, USA 12th – 15th March 2009 www.grc.org/programs.aspx?year=2009&program=qu St. Charles, IL, USA antgen www.maizegdb.org/

Keystone Symposium: Chromatin Dynamics and The 25th Fungal Genetics Conference Higher Order Organisation 17th – 22nd March 25th February – 2nd March 2009 Pacific Grove, CA, USA Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA www.fgsc.net/25thFGC/FGC25.htm www.keystonesymposia.org/Meetings/ViewMeetings. cfm?MeetingID=1000

www.genetics.org.uk . 7 EXTERNAL MEETINGS DIARY 8

Systems Biology: Networks 20th International Conference on Arabidopsis 18th – 22nd March 2009 Research Cold Spring Harbor, USA 30th June – 4th July 2009 http://meetings.cshl.edu/meetings/network09.shtml Edinburgh, UK http://arabidopsis2009.com/ Genetics & Genomics of Infectious Diseases Symposium Gordon Research Conference: Evolutionary & 21st – 24th March 2009 Ecological Functional Genomics Singapore 12th – 17th July 2009 www.nature.com/natureconferences/ggid2009/index.html Tilton, NH, USA www.grc.org/programs.aspx?year=2009& Synthetic Biology, Systems Biology and program=evoeco Bioinformatics Conference 2009 23rd – 25th March 2009 6th European Zebrafish, Genetics and Cambridge, UK Development Meeting http://conferences.theiet.org/biosysbio/ 15th – 19th July 2009 Rome, Italy The Dynamic Cell http://zfin.org/zf_info/news/mtgs.html#rome 1st – 4th April 2009 Edinburgh, UK Gordon Research Conference: Human Genetics www.jointbscbbs2009.org/ & Genomics 19th – 24th July 2009 EMBO Conference on Chromatin and Epigenetics Biddeford, ME, USA 13th - 17th May 2009 www.grc.org/programs.aspx?year=2009&progr Heidelberg, Germany am=humangen www-db.embl.de/jss/EmblGroupsOrg/conf_112 XXIV International Conference on Yeast European Society for Human Genetics Conference Genetics and 23rd – 26th May 2009 19th – 24th July 2009 Vienna, Austria Manchester, UK www.eshg.org/eshg2009/ www.yeastgenetics.org/

74th CSHSQB - Evolution: The Molecular Landscape Society for Developmental Biology: 68th 27th May – 1st June 2009 Annual Meeting Cold Spring Harbor, USA 23rd – 27th July 2009 http://meetings.cshl.edu/meetings/symp09.shtml San Francisco, CA, USA www.sdbonline.org/2009Mtg/Webpage.htm 17th International C. elegans meeting 24th – 28th June 2009 Gordon Research Conference: Epigenetics Los Angeles, CA, USA 9th – 14th August 2009 www.celegans.org/ Holderness, NH, USA www.grc.org/programs.aspx?year=2009&progr SEB Annual Main Meeting 2009 am=epigen 28th June - 1st July 2009 Glasgow, United Kingdom European Society for Evolutionary Biology www.sebiology.org/meetings/Glasgow/glasgow.html (ESEB) 2009 24th – 29th August 2009 Turin, Italy www.eseb2009.it/uk/

8 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 60 9 SECTIONAL INTEREST GROUPS

The Genetics Society helps support several sectional interest groups by providing meeting sponsorship. We currently have 8 groups who organise sectional interest meetings with the organizers and dates of any forthcoming meetings are listed below. If you are interested in any of these areas, please contact the relevant organiser. Groups who wish to be considered for sectional interest group status should contact the Treasurer, Josephine Pemberton, in the first instance.

Arabidopsis The Zebrafish Forum Organiser: Ruth Bastow ([email protected]) Organiser: Rachel Ashworth ([email protected]), http://garnet.arabidopsis.info/ Caroline Brennan ([email protected]), Corinne Houart ([email protected]). Archaea group There are meetings at 5:30pm-8.00pm on the first Organiser: Thorsten Allers Thursday of every other month. Room G12, New ([email protected]) Hunt's House, King's College - London SE1 1UL

British Yeast Group Organiser: Alistair Goldman ([email protected])

C. elegans Organiser: Stephen Nurrish ([email protected]) Society Ecological Genetics Group Organiser: Barbara Jones ([email protected])

Genetics Society Pombe Club Grants Organiser: Jacky Hayles ([email protected]) The Society has increased the Mammalian Genetics & Development Organisers: Elizabeth M. Fisher and Nick Greene levels of support available for Contact: [email protected] both the Heredity Fieldwork &

POP group Training Grants and the Genes Organiser: Deborah Charlesworth & Development Summer ([email protected]) Studentships. Drosophila Organiser: David Ish-Horowicz Full details on these awards are ([email protected]) available on pages 53 and 54. Monthly meetings are organised by: Joe Bateman ([email protected])

www.genetics.org.uk . 9 GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS 10

The Sir Kenneth Announcement Mather Memorial Prize The Genetics Society his is an annual prize of Annual General Meeting T£150 to reward a BSc, MSc or PhD student of any UK Friday 8th May 2009, The Royal Society, London University or Research Institution who has shown he 2009 Annual General Meeting of the Genetics Society will take place on outstanding performance in TFriday 8th May 2009, in the context of the Society’s Spring Meeting on Genetics the areas of quantitative or and Biotechnology held at the Royal Society, London. The business includes population genetics. election of new members to the Society and of new members to four positions on the Society’s Committee that fall vacant in May 2009. Nominations should be made between July 1st and Lists of new members proposed for election to the Society will be publicised via November 1st inclusive of each emails to members and on the web. Nominations for Committee vacancies year through the local Head of proposed by the Society will also be publicised at a later date by emails to members Department or School of the and on the Society’s website. nominee. Nominations should consist of no more than one IMPORTANT NOTE page of A4, setting out the case for the nomination, including The 2009 AGM will allow advance voting by email for those unable to attend in relevant comparison with person. Members will be notified by email of the motions to be voted on in this way other students where possible. and of the mechanisms for email voting. To ensure involvement in the AGM by Nominations should be sent to this mechanism, please ensure that the Society has your correct email address. As the Head of School, School of a check, you should have received an email communication from the Society – Biosciences, The University of sender "Christine Fender" [email protected] - on 15 October 2008 Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 inviting nominations for the Balfour and GS Medal competitions; if you did not 2TT, clearly labelled as a receive this message, please contact [email protected] with an email address nomination for "The Sir update. Kenneth Mather Memorial Prize". Provisional AGENDA Nominations will be assessed 1. Minutes of previous General Meeting (Saturday 10th May 2008); matters arising by a panel of two people with 2. President's Report experience in the area of quantitative/population 3. Honorary Treasurer's Report genetics, one from the 4. Honorary Secretary's Report and Business for Transaction University of Birmingham and the other nominated by the UK (a) Balfour Lecturer 2010 Genetics Society. Decisions (b) Genetics Society Medal 2010 will be announced in December each year. (c) Applications for new membership (d) Election of new committee members 5. AOB

10 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 60 GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS 11

Sectional Interest Postgraduate Representative Groups and One-Day Meetings Dear undergraduate and but don’t know where to start. I produced this as postgraduate students, young a result of my personal experience when I was an scientists. undergraduate. I was very keen to become a Sectional Interest Groups. scientist, but I had very little idea where to start I hope your studies/research The Genetics Society would since not many people in my family attended projects are going well. I would like to expand its portfolio of university. As an undergraduate, the majority of like to take this opportunity to sectional interest groups. If the teaching was lecture based with very little real remind you of the various your field would benefit from one-to-one contact with the academic staff. It funding opportunities you can annual or biannual workshops seemed almost impossible to imagine how one of apply for at the Genetics or meetings with sponsorship your lecturers could become your supervisor. I Society, which can help you of up to £2K per meeting, was lucky, a few members of the academic staff along the way. The Society please read on. were kind enough to explain to me some of the offers a number of Genes and “machinery” behind taking an undergraduate Development summer Sectional Interest groups student out of the lecture theatre and into the lab. scholarships for undergraduate should: cover a coherent field Below are some questions I was asking on the way. of genetical research or students with no eligibility activity, be held in the UK or required except that the Well, here I am, never been in the lab except for a Ireland, be open to all application has to be put couple of practicals; I want to do science, where interested parties to attend through by a full member of do I start? the Society. and be organised by members This is probably the most important question of the Genetics Society. If you Postgraduates and post-docs you’ll have to ask yourself at this stage, and it are interested in establishing a can apply for various travel really takes a lot of self-reflection to be able to sectional interest group please grants to assist attending answer it. You have to decide what sort of submit a one-page proposal scientific meetings as well as science you want to do. Is it Neuroscience, Cell including the research topic, funding to help in organising Biology, Genetics? They all have positions for justification of requirement, symposia or conferences in a good students, but which one interests you? proposed meeting frequency topic related to genetics. Below Picking the right subject, even if you can’t and proposed budget per I present a short guide for specify in very great detail what you want to do, meeting to the Honorary undergraduate students on how will help you identify where you may want to Treasurer, to make their first steps on a apply. If you are not sure, read the next question. [email protected] scientific career. I hope it will Not sure, could be genetics, could be molecular be of help for those who would biology, could be cell biology, don’t know… One-Day Meetings. like to get some experience of The Society funds several one- working in the lab, but don’t Welcome to the club, I also didn’t know at first, day meetings every year and really know where to start. but if you are either in your first or second year we welcome suggestions from (second and third respectively in Scotland), you Considering a future career the membership for meeting have plenty of time. Just pick the one that seems science? Don’t know where to topics. Meetings can be most fun, or if you had a good lecturer who start? We can help you with a focused on any area of introduced really interesting biology, that’s concise guide for genetics. Suggestions, probably a good place to start. including the names of undergraduates interested in potential organisers (generally careers in science. I want to be a molecular geneticist, sounds interesting, but what can I do, it seems like two people) and an indication This guide is aimed at everything has already been discovered. of the likely range of talks, undergraduate and can be submitted to the postgraduate students who are Very good point, up until the later stages of your Scientific Meetings Secretary keen on science and would like undergraduate education you tend to be taught [email protected]. to give a scientific career a try facts rather than theories or hypotheses you

www.genetics.org.uk . 11 GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS 12

could test during a PhD project. be and work among real agreed. Wellcome Trust, Nuffield Foundation But you don’t want to wait all scientists, realise whether you and scientific Societies often offer good deals for that time. Instead, you can really want to be a molecular students to work in a designated lab for 6-8 apply for a summer studentship geneticist, and why you cannot weeks. This includes the Genetics Society or just work in somebody’s lab microwave food in the lab. sponsored Genes and Development summer for free if you are lucky enough Apart from having enough time studentships which can fund a stint in a lab for to be able to afford to keep to talk to some PhD students up to 10 weeks. Application deadlines vary from yourself. This is the second and post-docs in the building, March to beginning of May, but the earlier you hard choice you have to make you can finally find out if your start looking for a project and talking to group after deciding on a research supervisor is easy going or leaders is of benefit, since it leaves you plenty of area: You need to identify your someone you will avoid for the time to apply and search for different options. future hero (or villain), a rest of your career. At the Summer studentships are a great opportunity to supervisor. Hopefully he or she same time, there is no real have your first “go” in the lab. They always look will provide helpful advice with pressure on getting results. great on your CV if you get external sponsorship respect to any postgraduate Your supervisor will probably and will put you in good standing when applying career you are thinking about. build up your sky-high hopes for PhD studentships afterwards. Good luck. for scientific success to the Sounds good so far, but where limits. But you probably won’t Some funding sources: do I find a supervisor? get a noble prize. In most cases Genetics Society Genes & Development Summer There are many places to look. you’ll be glad to have a nice Studentships Some students just talk to their graph that will be included in a favourite professor after a paper. Still, great job! If you www.genetics.org.uk/genetics_society_summer_st lecture, others look up some get nothing, there is one thing udentships names on the websites of you really must remember: DO Nuffield Foundation Undergraduate Research various departments, others NOT GIVE UP. Just because Bursaries look at departmental websites you didn’t get any results does of other universities or even not mean you are not suitable www.nuffieldfoundation.org/go/grants/nsbur/pag abroad. There are countless for science. It’s only a summer e_412.html possibilities, but these often project so don’t be afraid to try, Biochemical Society Summer Vacation require quite a bit of time to and chalk failures down as a Studentships fully explore. As soon as you learning experience. know whom you want to work www.biochemistry.org/education/vacation.htm Will I get paid? for, things become a lot easier. Wellcome Trust Biomedical Vacation It is important to remember Being a summer student means Scholarships that group leaders are almost you probably will be living always on the look out for good, away from home and will need www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/2008/News/WTX05250 ambitious students and they some pocket money for lunch. 6.htm may have some funding If your parents want you to find Many Universities have their own funding, for available to supply the research a summer work, you can kill example for those interested in summer work at expenses necessary for helping two birds with one stone and Cambridge, there is the recently established train a promising student. apply for a summer Amgen Scholars Programme Therefore, getting a placement studentship. In general you (http://www.biomed.cam.ac.uk/amgenscholars/). is often a matter of confidence. will get something in the region Departments that have BBSRC Dotctoral of £500 to £700 a month. Not a What about a project? Training Grants may have access to BBSRC fortune, but it helps pay your Undergraduate Vacation Bursaries. Try a Google A good place to start is a rent, bills and buy some food. search for Summer Research Studentships or summer project. Whether you Where to apply? There are such like. work for 8 or more weeks this is many organisations that you a perfect gateway to the can apply to once you have your Tom Nowakowski scientific world. First chance to supervisor and potential project University of Edinburgh

12 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 60

GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS 14

News From The Biosciences Federation www.bsf.ac.uk A New Voice for UK Biology John Brookfield . Vice-President (External Affairs)

he United Kingdom has a the Genetics Society). Many is NewCo, but a more attractive name will be TRoyal Society of have felt that this splitting of agreed on during 2009. What is now happening Chemistry, and if government the voice of biology into two is the establishment of an Interim Council to or others wish to hear what groups, one representing bring NewCo into being. The members of the Chemists are thinking, the societies and one, primarily, Interim Council are: RSC would be their first port individuals, is inefficient, and Mr. Ken Allen FIBiol, Dr Aileen Allsop, of call. For biologists, the that we should move to a more Professor Julia Buckingham, situation is more complex, in unitary and centralised Professor David Coates FIBiol, that there are currently two organisation. Professor Peter Downes OBE FIBiol, groups that speak for Thus, following a year or so of Professor Anne Glover FRSE, Dr Pat Goodwin biologists. On the one hand, discussions between the FIBiol, Professor Keith Gull FRS, there is the Biosciences Biosciences Federation and the Professor Martin Humphries, Federation, an organisation Institute of Biology, in the first Ms Liz Lakin FIBiol, Dr William Marshall FIBiol, whose members are the 45 week of December, the Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell FRS FIBiol, member societies, including Biosciences Federation and the Professor Malcolm Press, the Genetics Society. As Vice Institute of Biology held votes Professor Sir David Read FRS, Dr Lewis Smith. President for External Affairs, on enabling motions which one part of my post is to liaise Once NewCo is up and running, its future will be would set in train a process to with the Biosciences determined by a new council which will be establish a single organisation. Federation, and to represent elected in 2009. For the Genetics Society, we will So, on the 1st December, I the Society when the have to decide whether we wish to continue to be found myself at an Biosciences Federation is part of the new, fused group, and I hope that we Extraordinary General Meeting called upon to express do. Members of the Society who wish to find out of the Biosciences Federation, biologists’ views on issues more about the plans can obtain information on which voted for our enabling such as science and society, the Biosciences Foundation and the Institute of motion. Three days later the training in the biological Biology’s websites, at Institute of Biology passed sciences, and so on. However, http://www.bsf.ac.uk/default.htm and their equivalent motion. in addition to the Biosciences http://www.iob.org/ respectively. Federation, there exists the So now we are moving towards You may let me know your views or concerns at Institute of Biology, which has the goal of a single [email protected] a membership consisting organisation, which will primarily of individuals include both society and These are exciting times for biology in the UK (although it also has 35 individual membership. The and it could be that, as a community, our power affiliated societies from the UK rather uninspiring working and influence will be considerably enhanced by and overseas, but not including name of the new organisation these developments.

14 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 60 15 GENETICS SOCIETY MEETING REPORTS

A One-Day Genetics Society Meeting Evolution Of Sexual And Asexual Reproduction University of Bath, 5th September 2008

Organised by Laurence Hurst (Bath) and Roger Butlin (Sheffield)

Karel Janko . Institute of animal physiology and genetics . Czech Republic

nce biologists realised theories for the maintenance of interactions, population structure, virulence of Othat sex is not necessary sex. One may classify them parasites, etc. for reproduction, they started into those concerning intrinsic Another type of research is devoted to the direct to ask: what is sex for? This factors (such as rates of estimation of the parameter values in real question became even more of deleterious or organisms, which may then be compared to a paradox for evolutionary recombination) and extrinsic model predictions. Laboratory experiments are biology after Weissmann factors (e.g. the invasion of being carried out on organisms with short realised that asexuality has a parasites, role of the changing generation times, such as manipulative strong reproductive environment), or into classes experiments aimed at comparing the advantage over sex. All else assuming long-term versus adaptability of sexual and asexual strains. being equal, a immediate advantages of sex, Some, but much less effort is being invested into parthenogenetic population or by other criteria. empirical research dealing with the role of should rapidly drive a Hypotheses explaining the environmental complexity on the maintenance competing sexual population dominance of sex among of sex. Phylogenetic and population genetic to extinction since it does not Metazoans by the effect of tools also provide ways to address the rate at waste reproductive effort on deleterious mutation which synonymous and nonsynonymous males, which are themselves accumulation in asexuals or by accumulate in sexual and asexual unable to invest in the next the fast adaptation of parasites lineages, as well as estimating the long-term generation. This was known to clonal genotypes are fitness effects of clonality. Finally, a significant at the end of the 19th century generally preferred, although research effort is being devoted to seeking new and, despite decades of recently-published work sexual and asexual forms and to describing the intensive research and considering the role of evolutionary history of known forms. This may hundreds of scientific complex biotic interactions in be either via direct observations and publications, we still do not heterogeneous environments manipulation experiments or by determination know the detailed answer to showed that, in some parts of of phylogenetic relationships of extant asexual the question of why we have parameter space, sex may win and sexual lineages. sex or why, as a man, I am even in the absence of these here at all! mechanisms. The talks at this meeting represented the diversity of approaches currently applied to The approaches adopted in the Progress in modelling has lead understanding the evolution and origins of quest for understanding of the to better definition of the sexual and asexual reproduction with their evolution of sex are diverse. parameter combinations strengths and limitations. One important class of studies required for sex to persist and incorporates purely theoretical so underpins empirical studies. Thomas Lenormard (Montpellier, France) efforts to formalise hypotheses Critical parameters include the questioned the role of spatial structure in explaining the persistence of per-genome deleterious selecting for or against recombination and sex in nature. Currently, we mutation rate, the fitness hence for or against sex. His conclusions were have about twenty mutually effects of mutations as well as striking, especially given the traditionally minor non-exclusive and falsifiable the type of epistatic role attributed to population structure

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hypotheses in the evolution of to 100 loci, acquiring both sex. Contrary to previous beneficial and deleterious beliefs, Lenormard showed mutations and with a that population structure recombination modifier . influences the evolution of sex. Modifiers increasing the Environmental heterogeneity recombination rate were causes local adaptation with particularly favoured in formation of linkage systems with initially zero disequilibria (LD). In such recombination. Their cases, migration of individuals advantage increased with out of their optimal increasing population size, environment may easily because the number of overwhelm other sources of polymorphic genes increases in epistasis among loci The President LD, increase the frequency of such cases. determining network congratulates the suboptimal genotypes and, components and the 2008 Balfour Lecturer, In large populations, drift Daven Presgraves, therefore, favour consequences of introducing becomes weak while University of recombination even in infinite recombination. Because Rochester. hitchhiking effects may populations with no epistasis. recombination brings different significantly influence the Local drift further results in combinations of components ratio of effective population loss of . together, it selects for both size to census population size Migration tends to restore it robustness and negative and recombination may free and recombination may be epistasis. Negative epistasis alleles from their background. favoured by creation of novel can, in turn, favour This contrasts with previous allelic combinations. recombination. analytical solutions based on Surprisingly, this effect seems two loci. Selection favouring In his Balfour Lecture, Daven plausible even in weakly recombination is surprisingly Presgraves (Rochester, New structured populations where insensitive to epistasis in these York) focused on the the number of migrants per models. evolutionary consequences of generation, Nm > 1. Finally, restricted recombination in non-random mating was shown Two further talks dealt with Drosophila, caused by to alter the traditional issues surrounding epistasis inversions that are present on outcomes from models of and its role in the maintenance segregation distorter (SD) panmictic populations. of sexual reproduction. . Presgraves Ryszard Korona (Krakow, Peter Keightley (Edinburgh, studied the pattern of Poland) has conducted an UK) also adopted a modelling polymorphism at different impressive series of approach to test whether genes with varying level of experiments in yeast selection against new linkage to the genes combining hundreds of pairs of deleterious mutations explains responsible for SD. This deletions and testing for the persistence of sex. enabled him to make epistasis. Overall, there is inferences about the type and He first reviewed current data little tendency for either strength of selection at these allowing estimation of the per- positive or negative epistatic loci. He found that restricted generation deleterious effects and this remains true recombination increases the mutations rates in various when the tests are conducted accumulation of deleterious organisms, leading to the in stressful environments. mutations and reduces the conclusion that this parameter Christina Burch (North fitness of SD chromosomes, generally exceeds 0.1 among Carolina, USA) considered the preventing their spread. Metazoans. He subsequently evolution of robustness in simulated the evolution of a model metabolic networks, Mike Lynch (Indiana, USA) population segregating for up whether this generates presented work on the

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comparing the prevalence of represented a direction of parasites among sexual and research that is currently asexual forms as well as among under-appreciated: directly individual clonal lineages. testing hypotheses about the role of environmental They documented repeated complexity in the evolution of frequency cycles with the most sex. Using a theoretical model, frequent clone at a given time Scheu predicted that being replaced by currently asexuality should dominate in rare ones in the next step of environments with a high risk the cycle. The commonest of extinction and high resource clones usually displayed the supply but low resource highest prevalence of parasites extraordinarily powerful complexity. A manipulation Society President, and, most importantly, Brian Charlesworth, Daphnia waterflea system, experiment in an Amazonian manipulation experiments presents the 2008 where clones repeatedly forest to test these predictions Mendel Medal to suggested that the commonest emerge from sexual ancestors, did not produce significant Matthew Meselson of clones are also the most Harvard University. some of them being quite old. results but should inspire vulnerable to local parasites There is evidence that the non- others to tackle such difficult (but not to allochthonous synonymous substitution rate but important work. ones), while rare clones were is higher in asexual lineages resistant. This is exactly the Non-marine ostracods are compared to sexual ones, pattern predicted by the Red another group well known for putatively putting the asexual Queen hypothesis, since one possessing many asexual lineages at increasing risk of would expect parasites to adapt lineages. Dunja Lamatsch extinction as they age. The to the commonest local clone, (Mondsee, Austria) described asexuality clearly has a which, therefore, would appear extraordinary diversity of both contagious origin and one of as the most sensitive while sexual and asexual lineages the highlights of the meeting rare clones should mostly be with a single morphospecies. was to see the identification of resistant (except for those Asexual lineages have been the gene responsible for this which were recently common generated repeatedly both by process! The Rec8 gene, whose but have declined in loss of sex within populations product is involved in pairing frequency). and by hybridisation, leading of homologues during meiosis, to triploid clones, but it Stefan Scheu (Darmstadt, is disabled in clones by remains difficult to determine Germany) presented surprising insertion of a transposable the ages of clones. There is a insights into the mysterious element, causing meiosis to strong pattern of geographical world of small creatures living stop at the equational division. parthenogenesis associated in the soil. According to with an excess of triploid Jukka Jokela (Zurich, molecular clocks, oribatid clones in northern Europe, Switzerland) summarized an mites lost sex almost 300 MY which is surprising given that unprecedented series of ago and may, therefore, be they can only be generated studies on asexual New considered as the oldest known where sexual and asexual Zealand snails, which focused asexual animals. Yet, contrary lineages co-exist around the on the host-parasite to expectation for ancient Mediterranean. coevolution of castrating asexuals, they comprise a trematodes and asexual snails, diverse array of species with The presentation by Matthew Potamopyrgus antipodarum. worldwide distribution. Meselson (Harvard, USA), During about 20 years of Phylogenetic data even suggest winner of the 2008 Mendel research, Jokela and colleagues the possibility of the re- Medal, provided another collected thousands of snails evolution of sex in the oribatid fascinating page in the long in New Zealand lakes, family Crotoniidae. This talk research story of the bdelloid

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rotifers. After many fruitful documented by experiments on not hold under more complex models. Thus, I years of research motivated by the ability of bdelloids to believe we also need to ask how our assumptions the question of how bdelloids repair DNA after irradiation about the consequences of asexual reproduction could survive so long without and by the identification of actually relate to real clonal organisms found in sex, the answer seems to be non-Metazoan genes in their nature. Do they really suffer higher extinction here: they incorporate genomes. As Meselson said, rates, shorter life-spans and selection against fragments of DNA from the this strategy could be called older clones as predicted? Molecular environment into their “necrozoophilia”. phylogenetics and population genetics made genomes, which may result in enormous progress in recent years allowing us Apparently, research into the the acquisition of novel to estimate parameters such as extinction and evolution of sex and asexuality evolutionary potential as it speciation rates as well as their temporal shifts, is a dynamic and integrative does in the case of bacterial to detect selective sweeps, measure population field of evolutionary biology transformation. structure and so on, yet their application to data applying cutting-edge methods on asexuals has mostly been restricted to We learned that bdelloids have from theoretical biology, intuitive interpretations based on simple an extreme ability to survive ecology and molecular biology. phylogenetic trees. The effects on phylogenies desiccation (anhydrobiosis) For me, however, one of predicted age-dependent extinction rates have during which their DNA important type of analysis not yet been evaluated. becomes degraded. With their remains underexplored. Every enormous potential to model that is used to measure The meeting also highlighted an important lack reconstruct their genomic DNA a parameter, or that is tested of communication between plant and animal from such fragments, they may using estimated parameter biologists concerned with the evolution of sex occasionally incorporate novel values, is just a simplification and asexuality, which is a pity given the genes from dead organisms of reality. We saw during this progress that plant biologists have made (even non Metazoans) in their meeting that predicted recently, for example in the identification of environment, particularly near thresholds when sex should genes responsible for apomixis. the telomeres. This was win over asexuality often do

A Joint Genetics Society and British Society for Human Genetics Meeting Human Genetic Disease: From Model Organism to the Clinic. The Royal Society, 28th November 2008

Frances Wiseman . University College London . Institute of Neurology

The Genetics Society Autumn opportunity to hear about the dopaminergic circuits of Zebrafish are meeting was held jointly with cutting-edge research from a similar to those in mammals. ENU-induced the British Society for Human variety of fascinating Zebrafish mutants that have disrupted Genetics and covered the disciplines. development of dopaminergic neurons were theme of genetic disease in used to identify genes that are necessary for the The first talk of the meeting clinical practise and model formation of dopamingeric circuits in the was presented by Wolfgang organisms. Zebrafish. The functional importance of these Driever (University of genes was then studied using a range of The presentations covered a Freiburg) and discussed the behavioural tests. wide range of diseases from development of the cancer to neurodegeneration, dopaminergic neuronal system In particular, null mutants of the orthopedia providing a welcome in Zebrafish. Many aspects of gene mimicked the specific loss of dopaminergic

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neurons observed in Restless ciliopathies that include some leg Syndrome in humans. forms Retinitis Pigmentosa and Joubert Syndrome. His Like Zebrafish, Drosophila also group have used this approach offers a powerful model system to mathematically map similar in which to study neurological diseases in the OMIM database, disease. Juan Botas (Baylor and demonstrate that this map College of Medicine) described correlates with sequence several fly models of human similarities of the causative neurodegenerative disease and genes and known protein- his group’s high-throughput protein interactions. genome wide screening strategies to identify modifiers The theme of ciliopathies was of these diseases. This continued by Kathryn unbiased approach permits the Anderson (Sloan-Kettering Nick Hastie captivated the audience with an animated talk rapid identification and Institute), who presented her on the roles of WT1. validation of modifiers, which group’s work on the then can be studied further in importance of cilia in vertebrate models. In addition, developmental patterning via comparing data from screens Sonic hedgehog (Shh) mutants lack primary cilia on the notochord, for modifiers of different signalling. Most mammalian which affects Shh signalling despite normal neurodegenerative diseases cells have a single primary expression of the protein. The work of can be used to identify genes cilia, a complex organelle with Professors Tickle and Anderson illustrate the that effect neurodegeneration a unique intraflagellar profound role intracellular transport systems in general and those that are transport system. Cilia play in cellular signalling. disease-specific. For example, morphology defects have been a comparison of the modifiers linked to mutations in Jenny Morton (University of Cambridge) of fly models of the CAG components of this specific presented data on the effect of CAG repeat repeat disorders, type 1 transport system, for example length on the R6/2 mouse model of PolyQ spinocerebellar ataxia and the wimple mutant lacks Disease. Doctor Morton introduced a number of Huntington’s Disease, revealed primary cilia. This mutant cognitive tests for mice developed by her group, a number of genes that modify develops early embryonic including a two-choice discrimination touch both the diseases, including a patterning defects because of screen test for mice (Cambridge Mouse Touch number of RNA-binding the key role cilia play in Sonic Screen Project, CamToP) a voluntary task that proteins, suggesting a common hedgehog (Shh) signalling. is highly sensitive to cognitive function. mechanism of pathogenesis. Cheryll Tickle (University of The test was used to investigate the effect of The power of identifying Bath) presented the final talk CAG repeat length on cognitive function in the features common to multiple of the morning session. She R6/2 mouse model. Unexpectedly, expansion of diseases was clearly introduced the chicken as an the CAG repeats to lengths greater than 300 demonstrated by the important model system for repeats lead to an extension of the mouse presentation of clinical vertebrate limb development, models life-span and the formation of geneticist Han Brunner in part because of the relative extranuclear inclusions, which are also observed (Nijmegen Centre for accessibility of the embryo in humans with Huntington Disease. However, Molecular Life Sciences). during development. In when disease did occur in the animals with the Professor Brunner discussed addition, a number of specific longer repeat length the clinical presentation the grouping together of chicken mutants have been was indistinguishable from that observed in the genetic diseases into a “cloud identified, such as the talpid3 standard 150 CAG repeat model. These data of similar phenotypes” mutation, which is provide mechanistic insight into the impact of illustrated by his groups work polydactylous and develops an somatic CAG repeat expansion on Huntington on Stickler Syndrome, and enlarged wing-bud. Talpid3 Disease.

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Neal Copeland (Institute of IGF-1 mouse model. This work Molecular and Cell Biology, highlighted the importance of Singapore) described his and the recruitment of the anti- Nancy Jenkins’ work on the inflammatory M2 type of Sleeping Beauty transposable macrophage to the site of element as a gene-trap cancer muscle damage mediated by model. When this mobile IGF-1. This “healing” cell type genetic element, which accelerates the resolution of contains a strong promoter inflammation permitting rapid sequence, was introduced into tissue recovery. the mouse genome a high Robin Ali (University College frequency of haematopoietic London) presented his group’s cancer developed. These President-elect, Veronica van Heyningen, presents the 2008 Genetics work on the development of Society Medal to Nick Hastie, Director of the MRC Human Genetics cancers were studied to treatments for inherited Unit, Edinburgh. identify the genes disrupted by retinal degeneration. By the inserted element; a number working on the mouse and in WT1 are found in around 20% of Wilms’ of genes were more commonly spontaneous Briard dog model tumours, a form of paediatric kidney cancer. affected. However, no single of type 2 Leber Congenital WT1 has a well established role in kidney cancer gate-keeper was Amaurosis, Professors Ali’s development and functions to control the observed, rather a gene group developed somatic gene- transition between epithelial and mesenchymal member of a number of key therapy for this loss-of- cell fate. WT1 is expressed in many tissues but pathways had to be disrupted function disease. Their often in only a limited number of cells. In the to permit the development of targeted gene-therapy heart epicardium, expression of WT1 is required cancer. approach restored sight in both for cardiac mesoderm formation, absence of the By restricting the activation of animal models, and a small, gene leads to a thin myocardium and bleeding, the Sleeping Beauty element to but functionally significant, suggesting that this gene may have an specific tissues this technology improvement in vision important role in cardiac repair. Interestingly was also able to induce gastro- occurred in one patient treated the effect of WT1 expression on the regulation intestinal epithelia cancers. in the preliminary Phase I/II of down-stream factors, such as Wnt4 and E- Interestingly, very few of the trial. Moreover, no immune cadherin, is cell type specific. Extraordinarily, genes most commonly response to the AAV vector globally knocking-out WT1 in the adult mouse disrupted in the sleeping used in this study was detected has a dramatic effect on maintenance of several beauty induced haematopoietic in any of the treated patients, tissues, suggesting that this and gastrointestinal cancers suggesting this is not only an developmental/cancer-associated gene has an were the same, suggesting that effective but also a safe form of ongoing essential role in the adult. Professor the pathway to cancer may treatment. This work Hastie’s exciting talk was followed by the differ greatly between tissues. illustrated the vital role the presentation of the Genetic Society Medal by study of animal models of the President-Elect, Professor Veronica Van The presentation of Nadia human disease plays in the Heyningen, in recognition of Nick’s great Rosenthal, who is the director development of new clinical contribution to genetics research throughout his of the EMBL Monterotondo practise. career. Laboratory near Rome, also illustrated the power of mouse The Genetics Society Medal In conclusion, this was an exceptional meeting models in tackling human winner Professor Nicholas with a broad range of talks of the highest disease. Professor Rosenthal’s Hastie, Director of the MRC quality. The topics covered were diverse, presentation focused on the Human Genetics Unit, spanning the study of model organisms to balance between inflammation Edinburgh, presented the last clinical trials. The meeting provided all and regeneration in relation to talk of the meeting. Professor attendees with a clear view of the future study loss of cardiac muscle after Hastie talked about the Wilms’ of genetic disease and how to translate research heart attack, illustrated by her tumour gene, WT1. Mutations from bench to bedside.

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2nd Mammalian Genetics, Development and Disease Meeting 4th July 2008, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University

Rosalind John . School of Biosciences, Cardiff University

The 2nd Mammalian Genetics, bipolar disorder and investigate their regulation. Dr James Matthews Development and Disease schizophrenia. He also spoke (Genetics, Cardiff) talk focused on Stat3, a gene Meeting, sponsored by The about the intriguing data from with a vital role in maintaining the integrity of Genetics Society, The Company mouse transgenic studies the stem cell compartment in the small intestine. of Biologists, Cardiff School of suggesing that genomic Dr Daniel Eberhard (CRM, Bath) described a Biosciences and Wales Gene imprinting may play a role in population of cells in the embryonic bile duct Park was held on American the coadaptation between with characteristics of pancreatic endocrine cells Independence Day in Cardiff. females and their offspring and that could provide a source of insulin-producing On this occasion, we were other adult mammalian-specific cells for therapeutic transplantation. Dr Ilyas fortunate to have Professor behaviours. A future goal will Khan, (CTBL, Cardiff) described a telomere Lawrence Wilkinson as our be to ascertain whether these length analysis of aging adult articular Keynote speaker. Professor altered behaviours are set progenitor cells cultured in vitro. The role of Wilkinson holds a Cardiff during embryogenesis or as a GITL, a member of the TNF superfamily, and its University Link Chair between consequence of loss of the ligand GITRL in regulating neuronal branching Medicine and Psychology and is adult function of the imprinted and length was presented by Dr Gerard O’Keeffe notable for his recent work in gene. A table of imprinted (Neuroscience, Cardiff) while Dr Alysia Battersby the rapidly evolving area of genes and their roles in (Genetics, Cardiff) described an elegant project behavioural cognition is available at combining in vitro analysis of targeted ES cells genetics/epigenetics, with an http://www.bgg.cardiff.ac.uk/im with in vivo functional characterisation of emphasis on cognition. He printed_tables/index.html. transgenic mice to reveal a role for Fgf15 in spoke about the interaction modulating insulin signalling. A large scale between genomic imprinting There were several excellent screen to identify regulators of the Wnt pathway and brain development and short presentations from early was presented by Jamie Freeman (MCB, Cardiff) function. Imprinted genes, career stage researchers. The which highlighted the importance of synergistic which represent less than 1% of imprinting theme was interactions and computational analysis while Dr the total number of genes in continued with two talks on Araxia Urrutia, a Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin the mammalian genome, are Grb10. Dr Al Garfield Research Fellow and L’Oreal UK Women in those that are expressed from (Medicine, Cardiff) discussed a Science Fellow (Bath University), described her only one parental allele. It has potential role for this gene in work using a bioinformatics approach to been clear for many years that controlling social dominance understand more about the functional the appropriate expression of while Mike Cowley (CRM, Bath) significance of gene location. these imprinted genes is vital described his work defining the for normal embryonic molecular mechanisms Additional talks focused on using transgenic development. What has become regulating the gene’s intriguing technologies to understand disease processes. Dr apparent more recently is the allele-spatio-temporal Marcela Votruba (Optometry, Cardiff) presented role that imprinted genes play expression profile. Dr Mike her work on the autosomal optic atrophies (OPA) in cognition. Professor Storm (CRM, Bath) spoke about making use of the various ENU Mouse Wilkinson discussed several his work investigating stem cell Mutagenesis Projects to identify mice carrying neuropsychiatric and renewal. Using microarrays, mutations in two of the OPA genes which are neurological disorders that the group were able to identify now undergoing functional phenotyping to assess show parent-of-origin effects genes whose expression was vision acuity and aging. Cleo Bonnet (Medicine, including attention deficit altered by an inhibitor of the Cardiff) described the Tuberous Sclerosis models hyperactivity disorder, autism, (PI3K) signalling to further and her PhD work identifying a cell polarity

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defect that may underlie renal characterising the phenotype new therapies. A major theme to this meeting cystic disease. Dr Emma linked to over expression of one was the use of stem cell and transgenic Rennel (MRL, Bristol) described member of the synuclein technologies to understand both normal and the potential therapeutic family, which induces a abnormal development in mammals. These options of an alternatively progressive loss of motor skills technologies are based on the pioneering work spliced VEGF mRNA in modelling Parkinson’s disease. by many individuals and we were delighted that neovascular eye disease and Professor Sir Martin Evans, FRS (Genetics, cancer. Owen Peters was the The meeting elegantly Cardiff) and his two US-based colleagues, Mario youngest contributor of the day showcased the depth and Capecchi and Oliver Smithies, were in the first year of his PhD with breadth of expertise in acknowledged for their contribution to this field Professor Vladimir Buchman virtually all areas of of research with 2007 Nobel Prize for Medicine. (Genetics, Cardiff). Owen biomedicine - from basic Prizes of £50 were awarded to Mike Storm, Cleo described his preliminary work research to the development of Bonnett and Al Garfield.

4th London Fly Meeting 19th Sept 2008, King’s College London

Özge Özkaya . Leicester University

The 4th London Fly Meeting featured speakers describing organised by the London Fly different signalling pathways Club with the support of the during development. Dr Arno Genetics Society, took place in Müller presented several time- the Greenwood Theatre in lapse images investigating the King’s College London. The role of FGF signalling during one-day symposium was packed cell migration, whereas with a very interesting list of Professor Jessica Treisman seminars and brought together focused on the role of EGF scientists from the USA as well signalling in eye development. as Europe and Great Britain. Professor Richard Mann The meeting opened with the explored the role of the Hox Delegates at the fly meeting. Image © Özge Özkaya Keynote address of Professor protein Ubx in wing versus Mark Krasnow followed by haltere development. on the other hand presented examples of Professor Andrea Brand who evolutionary changes in 2 Drosophila species, D. described the work undertaken Finally, the 3rd part of the pachea and D. sechellia, and addressed how in her laboratory focusing on meeting included three understanding the genetic basis of evolution the role of Prospero, a speakers taking an requires a synthesis between developmental transcription factor that acts as evolutionary approach to biology and population genetics. The day was a switch between proliferation development. Professor concluded with the seminar given by Professor and differentiation. Dr Barry Michael Akam reviewed Michael Levine on early development of the Dickson gave an overview of segmentation mechanisms in Drosophila embryo. Drosophila reproductive arthropods, focusing on behaviour and the role of Sex myriapods and chelicerates. He Overall this symposium was an excellent Peptide in the nervous system compared the segmentation opportunity for me to meet with other members to conclude the Neurobiology process in these lineages to that of the Drosophila research community, including and Behaviour session. of vertebrates and discussed some old colleagues and new acquaintances. I how the Drosophila would like to thank the Genetics Society for The second part focused on segmentation process may have awarding me a Junior Scientist Travel grant to Intracellular Signalling and evolved. Dr Virginie Orgogozo attend this meeting.

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Film of the 1948 International Genetics Congress

A.W.F. Edwards . Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge

A private film of the 1948 gatherings of participants Robertson, J.M. Thoday, C.H. International Genetics outside the Congress buildings Waddington and Mary Lyon. Congress, Stockholm, has been in Stockholm and on the Happily some of these are still found and re-edited by conference tours. There are no with us and may be able to Professor Bengt O. Bengtsson, interior shots. direct us to their youthful of the University of Lund. images! There are of course Taken by one of the There were over one hundred many famous names from participants, Nils Nybom, it participants from Britain, some elsewhere to be seen, including received its first showing on of whom, such as R.A. Fisher, Muller, Dobzhansky, 27th November in Cambridge at J.B.S. Haldane, G. Pontecorvo, Goldschmidt, Demerec and the invitation of Professor C.D. Darlington, K. Mather and even the elderly Tschermak. A.W.F. Edwards with the Charlotte Auerbach, have The film offers thirty minutes support of the Sir Ronald attracted name labels in the of great interest, for which Fisher Memorial Trust and the newly-edited version. Others, Professor Bengtsson is to be Department of Genetics (to such as F. Yates, E.B. Ford and warmly congratulated. In due both of whom, thanks). D.J. Finney, have also been course no doubt the film will be identified, but some well-known made more widely available, The film is in black-and-white, people still await discovery in but for the moment any without sound, and shows the film – for example, D.G. enquiry should be directed to scenes from the pre-Congress Catcheside, L.L. Cavalli, D.S. Professor Bengtsson and the demonstrations in plant Falconer, H. Harris, H. Kalmus, Mendelian Society of Lund at breeding in the south of P.B. Medawar, Ursula Mittwoch, [email protected]. Sweden as well as informal R.R. Race, Ruth Sanger, A.

A private film of the 1948 International Genetics Congress, Stockholm, has been found and re-edited by Professor Bengt O. Bengtsson, of the University of Lund.

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John Marion Thoday, FRS 1916 – 2008

Donald McDonald and Michael Ashburner, FRS . Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge

rofessor John Thoday, FRS, Pwho held the post of Arthur Balfour Professor of Genetics, University of Cambridge from 1959 to 1983 and was President of the Genetical Society from 1975 to 1978, died on August 25, 2008, aged 91. John Thoday, one of the most influential geneticists of the second half of the 20th century, was born in Derbyshire, the third son of Professor David Thoday, FRS, and Mary Gladys Thoday. Both his parents were botanists, and when he was 6, his father was appointed to the chair of botany in the University of North Wales in Bangor. Thoday himself went on to read botany at Bangor, graduating in 1939. John Thoday at his desk in Cambridge in the ‘60s. During this time he developed an interest in the genetic basis for heritable variation, the RAF, which took him to at Mount Vernon Hospital. stimulated by the revolutionary postings in Cairo and Algiers, This was just after the use of work on plant chromosomes as part of the war in the the atomic bomb on Hiroshima then being done by C.D. Western desert. and Nagasaki, and the Darlington. On graduation, he realization that science In later years he would relish began a PhD in the Botany urgently needed to know more recounting his experiences of School in Cambridge in about the effects of radiation the heat, the dust and the flies, September 1939 under the on biological tissue. and the chaos and confusion of supervision of David war, but also of the While there, he made the Catcheside. camaraderie experienced by significant discovery that X- 1939 was however, hardly the many of his generation who rays break and damage best time to begin a PhD, and served in WWII. Demobbed chromosomes more effectively his studies were interrupted by with a commission in 1945, he in the presence of oxygen, a war service in aerial resumed his academic studies, finding which was later to lead photographic intelligence for taking a job as a radiobiologist to a much better understanding

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John made the significant discovery that X-rays break and damage chromosomes more effectively in the presence of oxygen, a finding which was later to lead to a much better understanding of the role of radiation in inducing mutation and . of the role of radiation in seminal to developments, his energies into these reforms. inducing mutation and genetic twenty and thirty years later, in Despite opposition from many variation. human genetics, and are now of his academic colleagues to fundamental to our his championship of what to His next move was to a understanding of the genetic them was a new and upstart lectureship in the University of basis of many complex human scientific discipline, he was Sheffield, again in the diseases. brilliantly successful at this. department of Botany, where For the first time the teaching over the next decade he not Thoday moved to Cambridge in of genetics took its rightful only set up a Department of 1959, to the Arthur Balfour place alongside the established Genetics, but also began the professorship with the task of subjects of , botany and research into the basis and developing the study of biochemistry in the first two evolutionary significance of genetics in Cambridge. A years of the Cambridge Natural differences between individuals Professorship of Genetics had Sciences Tripos. which established his been founded in Cambridge in reputation. In 1953 he 1912, but the first incumbent, Thoday served as president of published an important paper Punnett, appears to have the Genetical Society (as it was on the genetic components of concentrated largely on then called) from 1975 to 1978. fitness, and initiated a research research and tennis, and been By the time he retired from his programme using Drosophila, less interested in the teaching chair in 1983, he had the which was aimed at locating of students. Punnett’s satisfaction of presiding over a those genetic factors that successor, R.A. Fisher, although thriving research department, contributed to the continuous hugely distinguished as a which was also a core variation seen in characters statistician and geneticist, was contributor to the teaching of like height or weight or crop also focused on research rather biology in Cambridge. He yields. Research by Thoday and than teaching undergraduates. played a significant part both in his students in the decade from As a result the department in University administration, the mid-1950s overturned the 1960 was small and made little chairing major university then widely held view that such contribution to undergraduate committees involved with characters could not be studied teaching: Thoday’s brief was to resource allocation, and as a using conventional genetic build up the department and its fellow of Emmanuel College, methods. Working with such role in the teaching of biology. where he is still remembered as seemingly esoteric characters His appointment came at an a lively member of the high as fly bristle numbers, Thoday opportune time. Change was in table and as a keen bowls and colleagues developed the air, in particular a feeling player. genetic methods to locate such that there was a need for “polygenes”, as they were reform in the teaching of Perhaps John Thoday’s biggest termed, on the genetic map. biology. Thoday, with his contribution was in Despite their esoteric nature, experience of jointly teaching highlighting the critical the principles and concepts botanists and zoologists in importance of genetic developed in this work were Sheffield, immediately threw differences between individuals

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in understanding how biology In 2004, John opened the newly refurbished and evolution actually operate. Drosophila lab in the From the 1960s onwards until Cambridge Genetics fairly recently, geneticists Department, which is named the John tended to divide into two Thoday Laboratory in camps. In one camp were his honour. Here, molecular biologists, who John is pictured chatting to Michael wanted to understand the Ashburner. molecules that drove heredity, the structure of DNA and how the information in DNA was expressed in cells and organisms. In the other camp were population biologists who were primarily interested in genetic differences and how these drove the processes of evolution and natural selection. his contemporaries, was able to scientific or political. He liked John Thoday’s approach to the fit new discoveries in genetics to challenge his colleagues and teaching of genetics reflected into their broader biological students, delighted in making his breadth of interest in the contexts. In particular, he was provocative remarks to subject and he maintained that deeply concerned with the stimulate a thorough-going although a student might chose genetics of human society and argument, and he had a fund of to specialise in either the with the genetic consequences stories, some remarkably molecular aspects or the whole both of the stratification of scurrilous, about the public and organism aspects of the society and of its corollary, private lives of some of the subject, they should always be social mobility. In the classic major figures in 20th century able to understand what the nature versus nurture debate, genetics. other camp were talking about. his understanding of the As Professor and head of He established a strong complex interactions between department, he toured the tradition that the department, genetics and environment made department regularly, talking unlike so many others in the him despair equally of genetic to students and staff at the UK, should provide a very determinism and of those who bench to find out what they broad education in genetics, contended that environment lay were doing. At a time when from molecular biology to at the root of society’s many University professors population genetics, from problems. Few at that time were aloof and distant figures cytology to human genetics. took such a broad and holistic in their departments, he could view of genetics. The peak of his research output regularly be found in the bar of occurred at a time of great John Thoday had a penetrating the local pub playing darts (and productivity in genetics. It was and incisive intelligence, and competing aggressively) with a period of great innovation in relished the cut and thrust of his staff and research students. the technology and methods debate, whether about science A cheerful, ebullient and applied to research in genetics or politics or indeed any other convivial man, he left an and allied disciplines. Thoday topic. He described himself as indelible mark on genetics and and a few others stood out an old fashioned liberal, who on the teaching of biology in because they were not merely believed in democracy despite the University of Cambridge, brilliant experimentalists but its defects, and he had a lifelong and will always be remembered also philosophers of the contempt of and scepticism for with affection and respect by subject. He, more than most of dogmatic views, whether his colleagues and students.

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John Hilton Edwards, FRS 1928 - 2007

Prof. Malcolm Ferguson-Smith, FRS . Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge

ohn Edwards was born in In 1979 John was offered and accepted the J1928, the elder son of a distinguished London surgeon. Disruption caused by World War Professorship of Human Genetics at Oxford II may have interfered with his early schooling before he went University following Walter Bodmer’s resignation. to Uppingham in 1942. He left there with a distinction in student at the Middlesex. His pursued his clinical interests by Physics at HSC level and a first hospital post was in going on ward rounds at the passion for gliding obtained Neurology (with Douglas Children’s Hospital once a week during his time in the OTC Air McAlpine) at the Middlesex, but and this led him to an interest Squadron. The Gliding Club a routine medical examination in genetics. McKeown featured prominently during his for National Service in the suggested that he join the new three years preclinical course at Army revealed a tuberculous MRC Unit in Population Trinity Hall, Cambridge and lesion in one lung. Following Genetics at Oxford directed by this, with some uninspiring six months’ treatment, Alan Stevenson, an expert in lecture courses, he regarded as employed partly in reading up congenital malformations. the probable reasons for on statistical methods, he took a John was at the Unit from 1958 graduating with a IIIrd in the second house job in to 1960, but kept regular contact Natural Science Tripos. gastroenterology (with Avery with the Children’s Hospital in However, he greatly enjoyed his Jones) and then six months as a Birmingham. He resigned from time in the Zoology Department Senior House Officer in the MRC Unit in 1960 to take a and this influenced his later Psychiatry at Knowle County year’s sabbatical at the career. He went on to clinical Asylum. He became interested Children’s Hospital in studies at the Middlesex and in brain pathology and this led Philadelphia where he Central Middlesex Hospitals, to an SHO job in Pathology at consolidated his cytogenetics during which he joined the the Central Middlesex. In 1956, interests, interacting with Peter Territorials, and graduated in using his statistical knowledge, Nowell and David Hungerford. medicine in 1952. Instead of he successfully applied for a In 1961 he returned to the moving on to pre-registration Lectureship in Epidemiology at vacant Lectureship at the House jobs, he joined as medical Birmingham University to work Department of Social Medicine, officer with an interest in with Thomas McKeown and this time with a half-time Zoology, on board the Research Lancelot Hogben in the connection with Douglas Ship “John Biscoe” of the Department of Social Medicine. Hubble’s Department at the Falklands Islands Dependencies He was greatly influenced by Nuffield Institute of Child Survey and spent nine months Hogben and learned to apply Health. John set up there a in Port Stanley and the South statistics to information in the small cytogenetics laboratory to Atlantic. On his return he malformation register, namely study Down syndrome and to sought a Junior House Officer to the epidemiology of provide a post and married Felicity dislocation of the hip and of diagnostic service. Promotion Toussaint, a fellow medical neural tube defects. John to Senior Lecturer followed in

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1965, and to Reader in Human and mental handicap in Down Genetics in 1966. At this point syndrome could be the clues he took a year’s sabbatical at that could lead to other Cornell Medical Centre and the chromosomal syndromes. New York Blood Centre with Other less astute clinicians James German. On his return were looking at the he was awarded a personal chromosomes of Mendelian Professorship in Human disorders and major Genetics and moved the malformations and finding cytogenetics service and nothing. Chromosome analysis genetics clinic to the Women’s in those days depended on bone Hospital. John was elected to marrow or testis samples, both the Royal Society in 1979 for requiring invasive and “contributions to human traumatic procedures. John cytogenetics and genetic developed a “painless” skin epidemiology including biopsy method instead, which elucidation of the threshold involved pinching a tiny fold of model for multifactorial traits skin with forceps and slicing and pedigree linkage analysis”. the exposed part with a sharp In the same year he was offered scalpel blade. He practised this and accepted the Professorship on himself, producing multiple of Human Genetics at Oxford tiny scars on his knees. The University following Walter method proved completely Bodmer’s resignation to become acceptable to his young

Director of Research at the John Edwards in 1996. Image ©Ross Shipman patients. ICRF in London. He retired from his Oxford appointments another pioneer, and his In the years that followed John in 1995. John died of prostate contribution was to discover in continued his interest in cancer on 11th October, 2007. 1959 the extra chromosome 21 chromosome abnormalities and He is survived by Felicity and responsible for Down syndrome. described patients with mosaic his four children. One year later John, working trisomy, triploidy and various with David Harnden, discovered translocations. He established a At the time John Edwards the next chromosome disorder small laboratory for this work entered academic medicine as due to an extra chromosome 18. in the Nuffield Institute of Lecturer in 1956, genetics played This condition became known Child Health in Birmingham. virtually no part in the practice as Edwards Syndrome. The In one important study he of medicine. The molecular discovery was no chance personally analysed the structure of DNA had been observation. It was due to chromosomes of 128 patients solved only three years earlier, sound clinical intuition. He with Down syndrome born to and the discovery that humans appreciated that the pattern of young mothers in order to had 46 chromosomes and not 48 multiple minor malformations determine to what extent was made the same year that John was appointed Lecturer. Today, genetics is at the heart of He appreciated that the pattern of multiple minor medicine and DNA is the basis of diagnostic pathology. John malformations and mental handicap in Down was one of the pioneers that helped to make this remarkable syndrome could be the clues that could lead to transformation possible. The late Jerome Lejeune was other chromosomal syndromes.

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inherited translocations and chromosomes. He was an homologies of mouse and maternal mosaicism expert in statistics and human. He designed a contributed to the frequency of mathematical genetics and graphical representation of the condition. Only one wrote his own computer homologies based on inherited translocation was programmes. He insisted that comparative mapping that found and he rightly concluded his colleagues make their became known as the Oxford that routine analysis of affected primary data freely available grid. The grid revealed in children caused unnecessary and was an early advocate for simple form the large blocks of distress and was unwarranted. openness in human genetics. chromosome in which groups of When prenatal diagnosis was At the time when few human genes are conserved between introduced later in 1970, the genes were mapped to the two species. With the help recurrence of Down syndrome chromosomes, John developed of Frank Nicholas, a database in women with an affected child the novel idea of exclusion has now been created in which was found to be less than half a mapping using negative linkage the genomes of many species, percent. The option of prenatal which determined the including farm animals has diagnosis, however, gave chromosomal regions that could been created. These grids are couples the reassurance be excluded by the data. very valuable for evolutionary necessary to contemplate studies, as well as being a further pregnancies. John’s From the beginning of his demonstration of the laboratory was one of those career John was interested in extraordinary conservation of that were early in the field in how to determine genetic chromosome structure within providing prenatal diagnosis. susceptibility to common the animal kingdom. Indeed, as early as 1956, he had diseases such as diabetes and written to the Lancet drawing heart disease. His aim was to Among clinical geneticists, attention to its possible use in distinguish the effects of single John was an outstanding the diagnosis of foetal genetic genes of low penetrance from diagnostician and his clinical disorders. the combined effects of a experience led to notable papers multiplicity of genes. His ideas on the characterisation of X- John’s contribution to the are encapsulated in a paper linked hydrocephalus due to development of diagnostic entitled “The simulation of stenosis of the aqueduct of cytogenetics was very mendelism” published in 1960. Sylvius, and on the delineation important, but he also made This paper is considered one of of the Cornelia De Lange and outstanding contributions to his best. He returned to this Peutz-Jeghers syndromes. He other aspects of human theme on many occasions up to ran genetic counselling clinics genetics including linkage the last year of his life with throughout his professional life mapping, genetic susceptibility many critical papers on the and I know from several sources to common disease and proper use of sib-pair analysis, that he had an excellent rapport comparative genomics. He on haplotype mapping, and on with his patients. They greatly attended all eleven Human various aspects of allelic admired him and appreciated Gene Mapping Workshops from association. He was an the time and care he devoted to 1973 to 1991. These workshops undoubted leader in this them. He was always extremely provided the chromosome maps complex field. helpful to his clinical and that led eventually to the scientific staff and was a kind human genome project and the John’s interest in the and generous supervisor of complete DNA sequence of the conservation of linkage groups graduate students. He had a human genome in 2001. John’s between species led in the 1980s particular talent for inspiring contribution was to provide to a series of papers with Mary his students and staff and it is novel computing methods for Lyon, Tony Searle and other agreed that this was one of his assigning and ordering genes mouse geneticists at Harwell, most important legacies of his onto their specific comparing the chromosomal time as Professor and Head of

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Department in Birmingham “The genius of the man came in thinking laterally, diagonally and all and, from 1979, in Oxford. Other appointments included other ways except in a vertical direction. His clinical knowledge and Consultant to the University of insight, combined with a deep understanding of genetic principles, Iceland from 1967, where he provided a robust backdrop to our mapping work. My memories are helped to establish record of kindness combined with eccentricity.” linkage of all Icelandic births from 1840. He was also Visiting Professor of Human Genetics at him well. Ian Craig, his bending over the computer with the Memorial University of colleague in Oxford, remembers face close to the keyboard.” Newfoundland from 1977, “The genius of the man came in Consultant in Human Genetics thinking laterally, diagonally I share with Sue Povey, Andrew to the World Health and all other ways except in a Read, Dian Donnai and many Organisation from 1972, and vertical direction. His clinical others, fond memories of those Visiting Professor at the knowledge and insight, extraordinary annual seminars, University of Sydney in relation combined with a deep organised by John in the last to his work on comparative understanding of genetic week of January and held in the mapping. John acknowledged principles, provided a robust old Genetics Department how he was greatly influenced backdrop to our mapping work. Library in the Oxford in his career by mathematical My memories are of kindness biochemistry building. A small geneticists including Lancelot combined with eccentricity.” group of colleagues were Hogben, Lionel Penrose, Cedric Oliver Mayo writes “…no one invited to contribute on a Smith and Jim Renwick. else in my scientific world subject that John felt was ripe combined insight, keen humour for discussion. Those who It was always great fun to be and capacity to confuse and chose to use 35mm slides with John. His conversation illuminate simultaneously.” competed with inadequate was full of amusing anecdotes Walter Bodmer notes: “He had a blackout curtains and and he always had an apt fine feel for human genetics, temperamental projector, while analogy to emphasise a including a historical others lounged on ancient sofas particular point. For example, perspective, and always an and decaying armchairs. But he suggested that “reduced original way of looking at the output was some original penetrance allows a mutant problems and presenting them.” and highly productive gene to advance like a wolf in Eleida Freire Maia, his student discussion and we always ’s clothing”. On the in the 1970s, remarks that: “to returned home refreshed with decline of breast feeding, and study under John’s supervision new ideas. This is just one the possible selection against was a special gift. He taught example of John’s great ability human milk production, he ways of solving problems not to make us think constructively noted “If the breast now easily found.” Ed Southern and for this, and for many of his influences selection by shape comments, “He had a brilliant other gifts, we will remember rather than function, this has mind; lesser intellects had him with the greatest affection. no long term genetic hazards.” difficulty following his On another occasion, when reasoning and, in my case, it discussing with someone the would often take months for the pros and cons of prenatal penny to drop. But what diagnosis, he asked “Madam, if pennies!” Tom Roderick you were a kangaroo would you recalls, “He had a marvellous look in the pouch?” brain that short-circuited so many esoteric concepts with I have collected a few memories each other. A vivid memory I of John from those who knew have of him is his arched back

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My Favourite Paper(s)

Ian J. Jackson . MRC Human Genetics Unit, , Edinburgh

Molecular Characterization of the Mouse Agouti Locus (1992) Bultman et al. Cell 71:1195-1204.

Cloning of the mouse agouti gene predicts a secreted protein ubiquitously expressed in mice carrying the lethal yellow mutation (1993) Miller et al. Genes and Development 7:454-467.

hese two papers are by two pigments, black became obese, and had an Tamong my favourites for a eumelanin at the tip and base increased risk of cancer. number of reasons. They and yellow phaeomelanin in Through the 90 years leading hark back to the days when the middle, called the agouti up to these papers many more finding the gene affected by pattern. Strictly speaking a alleles of agouti were mutations was hard, well true wild type mouse has a identified and they could be before genome sequences pale, phaeomelanic, belly arranged in a dominance made things much easier. The (called white-bellied agouti) series, in which any yellowing gene they identify, encoded at but many lab agouti strains properties were dominant to the mouse agouti locus, had a have lost the pale ventrum. those that increased black terrific genetic history. These patterns are determined pigment. Predictions had been made by by two alleles of the agouti, or a few, based on genetics, A, gene. Another allele, Much later a second locus was about how it might interact nonagouti, is recessive to characterised; the “extension” with other genes to regulate agouti, and also dates back to locus at which recessive hair pigmentation, but these when mice were first kept in mutations, when homozygous, predictions had seemed too the lab. It results in mice extended the yellow pigment simple. Once the gene was being uniformly black (this portion so that it covered the cloned the simplicity of the allele is present in C57BL/6 whole hair. Dominant alleles interactions was apparent, mice for example). A fourth of this gene had the opposite and the basis of some of the allele also dates back to the effect of reducing the yellow most interesting mutations beginning of mouse genetics. band and darkening the hair. were revealed. Finally the This one, dominant yellow, or So there were two loci, both mechanism of pleiotropism of Ay, has a dominant effect that affecting the balance of black one of the oldest alleles led makes the hairs uniformly to yellow pigment, but into an area of behavioural yellow, as the name suggests, recessive mutations at one had genetics and saw substantial but it was also shown by the phenotype of dominant investments by major drug Cuenot in 1905 to be mutations at the other, and companies. Pretty much all of homozygous embryonic lethal. vice versa. Surely the gene this is there in these two This was the first embryonic products had to interact? papers. lethal mutation described in Furthermore, grafting the mouse. Ay had added experiments showed that the So first, the history: “wild interest to mouse biologists as extension gene acted in the type” mouse hair is coloured mice with the mutation melanocyte whilst the agouti

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gene acted in the surrounding was expressed exclusively in basis of the pleiotropic obesity skin: a clear indication of a the skin. Bultman et al showed seen with this mutation was receptor and a ligand. Making that it was still present in skin not difficult to make; it must that leap, however, was harder which lacked melanocytes, as be acting on another protein, than you might think as the the grafting experiments said probably a receptor which receptor that was the agouti should be. Both groups regulated body weight. candidate for regulating the found that the gene was not yellow/black pigment switch expressed at the beginning or That was as far as these papers gave black pigment when the end of hair growth, but went, but the findings stimulated, the opposite action only in the middle when the effectively set up a lot of of that predicted for agouti. band of yellow pigment was further work. As predicted, made. Bingo! Exactly the the agouti gene product, ASP, This candidate receptor, the characteristics of a secreted was later shown to bind to melanocyte-stimulating protein which directed MC1R and to inhibit its activity hormone (MSH) receptor, now melanocytes to make yellow (3,4). The structural basis for called MC1R, was cloned pigment. This observation this is still far from being earlier in 1992, and sure alone, showing transcription understood. The gene has two enough it was the product of tightly coupled the hair growth promoters: one is active the extension locus. Recessive cycle, would make these papers throughout the whole growth yellow was a loss of function among my favourites. of the hair, but is only mutation and the dominant expressed in ventral skin. This darkening alleles were Both went on to look at the promoter has been lost in missense mutations which gross structure and expression agouti mice. The other increased activity, or gave of the gene in the agouti promoter is expressed in skin MSH-independent activity (1). alleles. It fit the bill perfectly. everywhere, but is With part of the system pinned White bellied agouti mice synchronised with hair growth down, now it was possible to expressed the gene on their so that it is only activated postulate a 3-component ventrum all the time, whilst during a narrow time window system responsible for normal agouti animals showed the (5). What DNA elements and hair colour; MC1R, its agonist pulse of expression during hair transcription factors regulate MSH and an inhibitor of growth. Another allele, black the spatial and temporal signalling, perhaps encoded by and tan, showed constitutive activity of the promoters is agouti. expression in the tan belly but still unknown. no expression on the black Both these papers started from back. Likewise no expression The DNA insertion in the same point; a fragment of could be seen in the skin of nonagouti mice reported in DNA cloned by Rick Woychik's black, nonagouti, mice. these papers essentially group at Oak Ridge National Southern blotting detected inactivates both promoters Labs, from a chromosomal what looked like DNA (except, strangely, in the skin inversion which gave a insertions 5' of the coding behind the ears and around the nonagouti phenotype and thus region in black and tan and in genitals). The insertion is probably disrupted the agouti nonagouti DNA. DNA actually a double integration gene (2). Both groups, rearrangements were also seen of a retrotransposon into a Woychik's and Greg Barsh's at in dominant yellow mice; the second retrotransposon. Stanford used this probe to result of which was Reversions of the nonagouti identify an mRNA in the overexpression of the agouti mutation are relatively region. Sequencing showed mRNA. The mRNA from the common through loss of the that it encoded a small protein Ay allele was not only seen in retrotransposons by that was likely to be secreted, skin but also in all tissues recombination of the LTRs. If and Northern blots showed it examined. The jump to the the outer element recombines,

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then both retrotransposons are have been characterised, but removed and the gene reverts none of them are recessive to the wild type, white bellied lethal. Almost all of these agouti form. If the inner alleles turn out to be caused by element only is lost, leaving the integration of a one element behind, the mouse transposable IAP element becomes black-and-tan; the upstream of agouti, and repression of the ventral promoter activity from the IAP promoter is removed, but the drives ectopic and unregulated hair-cycle specific promoter expression of agouti and hence remains blocked so the mouse the yellow coat (8,9). All the has a black back and a tan IAP-induced dominant yellows belly (6). have variegation of expression and have dark patches of fur The upregulation and ectopic where the agouti gene is not Agouti protein was acting on Agouti coat colours, activation of agouti expressed. This is associated another receptor and causing from Jackson Laboratory website. y transcription in A is due to a with methylation of the IAP obesity was confirmed. The http://www.informatics.j chromosomal deletion which element, and inactivation of its related receptor, MC4R, is ax.org/greenbook/figure removes the agouti promoter promoter. Interestingly the expressed in the brain, and s/figure21-1.shtml and puts its coding exons degree of methylation and Agouti protein will prevent its downstream of the promoter promoter inactivation is activation (11). Knockout mice and 5' noncoding exons of a epigenetically inherited, so for MC4R have an obese ubiquitously expressed gene, that mothers with large phenotype, as do humans with Raly. The homozygous patches of dark fur tend to give mutations in the same gene embryonic lethality of Ay is rise to progeny also with large (12,13). Agouti is not normally due to the absence of the patches (9,10). expressed in the brain, but a coding region of Raly and related gene, AGRP, is, and it is another gene, lying between Finally, the effect of ectopic part of a complex set of Raly and agouti, Eif2s2 (7). agouti expression on obesity signalling molecules that Interestingly, numerous other has spawned a large research regulate feeding behaviour and dominant yellow agouti alleles enterprise. The notion that weight homeostasis (14).

References

1. Robbins LS, et al. (1993) Pigmentation phenotypes of variant extension locus alleles result from point mutations that alter MSH receptor function. Cell 72:827-34. 2. Bultman SJ, et al. (1991) Molecular characterization of a region of DNA associated with mutations at the agouti locus in the mouse. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 88:8062-6. 3. Ollmann MM, et al. (1998) Interaction of Agouti protein with the melanocortin 1 receptor in vitro and in vivo. Genes Dev. 12:316-30. 4. Lu D, et al. (1994) Agouti protein is an antagonist of the melanocyte-stimulating-hormone receptor. Nature 371:799-802 5. Vrieling H, et al. (1994) Differences in dorsal and ventral pigmentation result from regional expression of the mouse agouti gene. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 91:5667-71. 6. Bultman SJ, et al. (1994) Molecular analysis of reverse mutations from nonagouti (a) to black-and-tan(a(t)) and white-bellied agouti (Aw) reveals alternative forms of agouti transcripts. Genes Dev. 8:481-90. 7. Michaud EJ, et al. (1993) The embryonic lethality of homozygous lethal yellow mice (Ay/Ay) is associated with the disruption of a novel RNA- binding protein. Genes Dev. 7:1203-13. 8. Duhl DM, et al. (1994) Neomorphic agouti mutations in obese yellow mice. Nat Genet. 8:59-65. 9. Michaud EJ, (1994) Differential expression of a new dominant agouti allele (Aiapy) is correlated with methylation state and is influenced by parental lineage. Genes Dev. 8:1463-72. 10. Morgan HD, (1999) Epigenetic inheritance at the agouti locus in the mouse. Nat Genet. 23:314-8. 11. Ollmann MM, et al. (1997) Antagonism of central melanocortin receptors in vitro and in vivo by agouti-related protein. Science 278:135-8. 12. Huszar D, et al. (1997) Targeted disruption of the melanocortin-4 receptor results in obesity in mice. Cell. 88:131-41. 13. Yeo GS, et al. (1998) A frameshift mutation in MC4R associated with dominantly inherited human obesity. Nat Genet. 20:111-2. 14. Adan RA, et al. (2006) The MC4 receptor and control of appetite. Br J Pharmacol. 149:815-27

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A Taxi Driver Writes... Darwin Big Idea Big Exhibition

Josephine Pemberton

hat is it with the modern London, and this, perhaps, Darwin may have been Wmuseum exhibition provides a clue to some of the confused by some of the exhibits used to designers? How come they things I found so distracting illustrate evolution! can’t let visitors absorb facts at about it. their own pace from quiet contemplation of exhibits laid For £9 one enters a large, high- before them? These were my ceilinged gallery where one is thoughts as I left the Darwin instantly and simultaneously Big Idea Exhibition after my assailed by noise and plunged first visit to the Natural History into darkness. Museum for about 20 years. Inside this single room are two The exhibition follows Darwin’s small open plan cinemas life, achievements and legacy in showing movies with loud marvellous detail with many commentaries, one loudspeaker choice and wonderful exhibits. commentating on a specific The exhibition is a joint one, part of the exhibit, one TV organised by no less than five screen with biologists great museums: the American commenting on ‘what is a Museum of Natural History, theory?’, one screen that talks New York; the Museum of if anyone presses buttons on it Science, Boston; the Field and several speakers playing I found it next to impossible to Museum, Chicago; the Royal bird sounds (presumably from concentrate on the text of the Ontario Museum, Toronto; and South America or the notices I was trying to read. the Natural History Museum, Galapagos). Oh, and there was Perhaps I have got too precious London. also the guy on his mobile on the matter, but I have got phone even though the ticket used to reading in the quiet, The exhibition has been to all asks for these to be switched and now I cannot do it in the of these other venues before off. With all this aural assault, noise.

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The low lighting level was a some of our fine selection of Species would have contained further distraction. There is Genetics Society presidents and hour upon hour of quiet something really weird about maybe some of those that contemplation of the facts having sounds and exhibits might be recognised by the before him, arising from trying to create the atmosphere public, such as Richard detailed examination of the of a sun-baked tropical shore Dawkins or Steve Jones, when many specimens and while one is actually in the the show reached the UK? experiments he conducted. semi-darkness. I understand Surely he would have been that precious exhibits need low And don’t get me started on the appalled at the distracting light, but is this low really Ladybug Game. Oops! I’ve got cacophony that is this needed on a couple of giant myself started. Ladybugs are exhibition? tortoises? Couldn’t there have what the Americans call been a bit more light on the Ladybirds, and as we all know This is a serious exhibition vermilion flycatcher, the they are not bugs but beetles trying to put over a serious bit subject of a specific notice, but i.e. amongst Darwin’s favourite of history. Although the so dim up in its tree that it taxa. In the Ladybug Game the Natural History Museum could have been anything red cartoon beetles have a green- invites school groups to come including an escaped Christmas orange colour polymorphism and see it, I would say this robin. Some of the notices were and the background foliage on exhibition is not really so dark it was a real strain to which they live can be appropriate for children; it is read them. manipulated by the user for interested adults who have between green and the rather paid to get in, and for this, I ‘What is a theory?’ is a improbable orange. During the suggest, the atmosphere of an continually playing video game, birds appear on the art gallery rather than the screen that appears partly screen and eat the beetle circus would be more motivated by the need to morphs in frequencies that appropriate. combat the Intelligent Design vary with their crypsis against movement. One could question the background. New beetles whether we need this in the UK, appear, presumably in morph ‘What is a theory?’ is a but if we do, while it’s nice to frequencies determined by the have North American biologists survival of the previous continually playing video acknowledging our hero, could generation. In this way one can we not have had some Brits too? demonstrate the principle of screen that appears partly Of the five speakers on the loop natural selection to oneself. (which can be viewed at Lovely, but given Darwin’s motivated by the need to http://www.amnh.org/exhibitio proclivities for facts, is it not ns/darwin/evolution/theory.php shocking the exhibition should combat the Intelligent ) I only recognised Francis choose ladybirds for this game? Collins and Niles Eldrige; I Ladybirds are distasteful Design movement. regret that I had no knowledge aposematically-coloured insects of who Kenneth Miller, Georgia that are rarely predated by Dunston or Eugenie Scott were birds and rarely occur in green until I looked them up on the (I asked Mike Majerus and he internet. The average British should know). visitor will surely be even more in the dark. I am not strong on Darwin history but in my imagination, Was there really no room for all those years between the any British evolutionary voyage of the Beagle and the biologists, including perhaps publication of the Origin of

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Early house mice (Mus musculus musculus) in the New World?

Eleanor Jones . University of York

ouse mice were originally The Viking site at L’Anse aux Hnative to the northern part Meadows in of the Indian sub-continent, Newfoundland. and have spread to occupy a © E Jones near-global distribution mostly through transport by humans. Their close association with humans makes them an intriguing species to study, as their phylogeography should reflect the pattern of human movement and colonization that led to their spread. A number of studies have Vikings, namely Norway, the farmsteads (McGovern et al. investigated the Faeroe Islands, Iceland and 1987). Could they have carried phylogeography of the house Northern France. My central the house mice as far as mouse with this in mind, hypothesis has been that the Newfoundland? I was awarded including a recent paper by Norse Vikings carried a specific a Heredity Field Grant, which Searle et al. (2008) that D-loop lineage of house mice allowed me to extend my examined house mice with them as they settled new sampling to see whether this throughout the United areas and that these arriving was the case. Kingdom and Ireland, and mice were able to establish found a mitochondrial DNA (D- themselves and persist to the Having obtained the necessary loop) lineage that matched the present day. However, the permits, in September 2008 I areas of activity of the Norse Vikings occupied a kingdom went to Newfoundland to Vikings. In my PhD research, I that spread across the Atlantic sample mice, starting with a have increased the number of as far as Greenland and North trip to the archaeological site at samples available from the America, and they certainly L’Anse aux Meadows. Suitable British Isles and extended the carried the house mice with house mouse habitats (i.e. sampling of house mice to them as far as Greenland as barns with livestock and feed- other regions that were heavily attested by archaeological hoppers) are quite thin on the influenced by the Norse remains from excavated Viking ground in that part of

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Newfoundland, but I obtained also elsewhere in western The author with a chipmunk recently 50 samples from five different Europe. I will sequence evicted from a locations in the west of the mitochondrial D-loops from Longworth trap. province. The majority of sites some of the samples, and © E Jones where I found mice were farms compare these to existing although, appropriately sequences to see if the mice are enough, an agricultural older immigrants from Norway, research station was also fertile or more recent arrivals from territory. There were some Britain or Canada. If these unexpected visitors to the results are promising, I will Longworth live traps (see screen the samples for a panel picture). I have typed the of microsatellite markers to get samples for genetic markers a clearer picture of where the that discriminate between the mice arrived from. different M. musculus sub- species; morphologically, the McGovern TH. (1990) The mice resemble M. archaeology of the Norse North m. domesticus, but elsewhere I Atlantic. Ann. Rev. have found a surprising number Anthropology 19: 331-351. of hybrids, so it was important to check. In the case of the Searle JB., et al. (2008) Of mice Newfoundland mice, they and (Viking?) men: appear to be ‘pure’ M. phylogeography of m. domesticus, the same British and Irish house mice. subspecies as found in the area Proc. R, Soc. B, occupied by Norse Vikings, but doi:10.1098/rspb.2008.0958

Ford, Maniola & The Isles of Scilly

David J Hosken . Centre for Ecology & Conservation, School of Biosciences, The University of Exeter.

he great ecological about 9 miles, and fall into two The author with a Tgeneticist EB Ford distinct size classes; small female Maniola jurtina © DJ Hosken conducted many studies of islands of about 40 acres or the meadow brown butterfly, less and large of about 300 Maniola jurtina, a species with acres or more. In work that a wing spot polymorphism on spanned 14 years (from 1946- the underside of the hind wing. 1959) Ford and co-workers Individual females have found that female spot- between 0 and 5 spots, typically distributions on each island with a mode of two (Ford 1975). were constant, with a couple of islands, with each small island One of Ford’s most striking exceptions discussed below. home to populations that are findings came from work on However, while the patterns of highly individual in the spot the Isles of Scilly, an island spottiness on the larger islands distribution patterns (Ford chain off the Cornish coast. were very similar, having more 1975). These islands are all found in or less identical proportions of close proximity to each other, 0, 1 & 2 spot females, they Ford interpreted these facts as being maximally separated by differed greatly on the smaller evidence for very strong

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The view from Tresco on the Isles of Scilly. © DJ Hosken

selection one each island In August of this year, I visited thoroughly test Ford’s central because for the most part the the Isles of Scilly with four thesis, that difference across population sizes are too great helpers to resample some of the islands are due to strong for these differences to be Ford’s study sites. We were local selection. Additional attributed to drift, migration very lucky as our arrival funding is being looked for to between islands was thought coincided with the arrival of fund some of this, but the to be negligible and the some hot and sunny weather, funds from the Genetics constancy of the patterns over and the first things that were Society have already been time seems inconsistent with noticeable were the enormous helpful in kick-starting our either (Ford 1975). numbers of M. jurtina present return to this iconic system. Furthermore, ecological at some of these sites and how disturbance resulted in close some island were, even I would very much like to changing spot frequencies. though their historical thank the Genetics Society for For example, removal of a patterns of spottiness were their help in funding the cattle herd from the island of extremely different. (In all fieldtrip, the Scillies Wildlife Tean resulted in vegetational honesty, these were probably Trust for their permission to changes and a new spot the second things we noticed – collect on the Scillies and distribution pattern that the first being how beautiful Annette Stucki, Simon Baxter, subsequently remained the Scillys are). This close Tom Tregenza & Nina Wedell constant, and similar results proximity of some islands for their help with the were seen on White Island makes it difficult to believe collections. after a storm (Ford 1975). All that there isn’t substantial of which led Ford to suggest migration between some areas, Ford EB (1975) Ecological local selection was the culprit. but time will tell. At present Genetics. Methuen. we have a particularly good More recent work in the 1970’s sample from St Mary’s and Handford PT (1973) Patterns of documented spot patterns preliminary analysis indicates variation in a number of Catching butterflies similar to those reported by that the patterns there are as genetic systems in Maniola requires great agility (as displayed by Tom Ford and additionally, reported by Ford. How other jurtina: the Isles of Scilly. Proc. Tregenza) discontinuities in spot patterns areas compare is not known R. Soc. B 183:285-300. © DJ Hosken were mirrored by yet, and with term just discontinuities in the commencing, we’ll have to wait frequencies of allozyme a bit for these results. The (esterase) morphs (Handford system and site has 1973). However, there has been tremendous potential. Not no comprehensive population only are the animals very genetic study to assess numerous, the small size of potential gene flow between some islands offers the these populations and no potential to document comprehensive survey has selection in situ. By combining been conducted on the islands some common garden rearing, subsequent to the 1970’s to see mark-release-recapture and if patterns of spottiness have population genetics, we remained constant. ultimately hope to be able to

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Silverfish, solitary bees and Strepsiptera: encounters with peculiar parasites in the Carpathian basin

Dino McMahon . Department of Zoology, University of Oxford

Abandoned warehouses from characteristics). They remain Typical Transylvanian soviet days greeted us along the within the host indefinitely and habitats. meandering, rainy July-night can be viewed simply as egg- © A. Hayward drive through empty streets making machines. Males, on the into Budapest. An inauspicious other hand, pupate within start to our fortnight’s search hosts; developing wings and a for an elusive group of parasitic usual suite of adult insect insects quickly faded, however, characters (such as antennae, upon our arrival into town: mouthparts and compound discussions over hot goulash eyes), leave the host abundance of rare taxonomic soup in the company of our immediately to search for a groups. An opportunity to well established Hungarian link mate (Kinzelback 1978; collect and record some of the (whose generous hospitality Kathirithamby 1989; more unusual European species and broad knowledge as an all- Kathirithamby 1991). Males of Strepsiptera therefore star naturalist were deliver sperm to the eggs seemed to present itself. Newly indispensable) overturned our through an opening in the head sampled specimens would fortunes at once. (cephalothorax) of the partially further our taxonomic extruded female who is still understanding of an obscure The goal here in the centre of resident in the host. She may parasitic insect group and its the Carpathian basin was subsequently produce many hosts’ distribution, but they simple: to survey and sample hundreds of thousands of would also serve as important the region’s “twisted-wing active 1st instar larvae, all of additions to a parallel study for parasites” or strepsipterans whom are obliged to crawl out my DPhil investigating the (Insecta; Order Strepsiptera) for through the same opening in molecular phylogenetics of short. Strepsipterans are by all order to reach the outside Strepsiptera, with a focus on accounts quite unusual world. exploring the timing and origin creatures. They are obligate of a unique insect radiation. parasites of other insects, Why were we here? Our first stop was including silverfish Southeastern Europe is Transylvania. From Hungary, (Thysanura); cockroaches and believed to be an important we crossed the Romanian mantids (Dictyoptera); crickets glacial refugium (Willis et border near Szeged to the South and grasshoppers (Orthoptera); al.1998; Stewart & Lister 2001), East, and entered a zone bugs (Hemiptera); wasps, ants and combined with the famous for vampires and and bees (Hymenoptera) and avoidance of severe gypsies. Although the closest flies (Diptera). Excluding a deforestation and thing to a vampire was a toy putatively basal lineage, all industrialization the region has bat hanging from the rearview strepsipteran females are preserved a diverse biotic mirror of our hire car, a neotenous (retaining larval environment, containing an number of interactions with

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Romanian gypsy culture did mountain. After three days of specimens and the links colour our journey. Spare collection in this and nearby established (including the long money earned from illicit trade areas, we returned to Hungary term malaise trap material on the black market has led to and headed west of Budapest, continually being collected in the development of a towards Lake Balaton for a Romania) would not have been ubiquitous but really quite week’s collection in a much possible without help from the unusual phenomenon, warmer and drier habitat Genetics Society, to whom I am particularly near border towns, located in the western basin. very grateful. Thanks must whereby enormous imitation Hot days were spent exploring also be extended to Dr baroque mansions are half- the area, collecting as many Alexander Hayward (University constructed, commonly with insect groups in as many of Oxford) and Zoltan Ács for garishly reflective aluminium different locations as possible. scientific and logistical roofs displaying absurdly assistance throughout the elaborate eave and gable metal Collecting methods throughout expedition. workings, and left as the expedition included black uninhabited public displays of and white light traps, malaise wealth. Half a day’s drive traps (in long term fixed Kathirithamby J. (1989). Review through such towns brought us locations), yellow pans, sweep of the order Strepsiptera. Syst. to the foothills of the netting and hand collecting (a Ent. 14:41-62. mountains. Comprising a surprisingly effective method Kathirithamby J. (1991). sizeable portion of the for specific insect targets). For Strepsiptera. In The Insects of Carpathian range, Transylvania hosts and their resident females Australia: A textbook for has preserved swathes of and/or immature males active students and researchers. 2nd pristine subalpine forest; and methods were most effective, Edition. Melbourne University despite the ceaseless march of whereas collection of free flying Press. pp684-695 progress (Romania’s booming Strepsiptera (males by default) Kinzelbach RK. (1978). economy has led to significant was more readily achieved Strepsiptera. Die Tierwelt deforestation in the western using passive traps. In this way, Deutschlands 65:166. territory) we were lucky underrepresented genera in the enough to witness some of it. A phylogeny were specifically Stewart JR, Lister AM. (2001). very wet day permitted a trek targeted by searching for hosts, Cryptic northern refugia and into Apuseni mountain reserve although passive methods the origins of the modern biota. (Pádis, central Carpathians), a turned out to be just as useful. Trends Ecol. Evol. 16:609-613. zone of deep ravines shrouded Willis KJ, Rudner E, Sümegi P. in deciduous subalpine forest. Among the specimens collected, (1998). The full-glacial forests of On a ledge of one of the deepest the most intriguing were free Central and Southeastern drops we stumbled across a flying males caught in malaise Europe. Quart. Res. 53:203-213. large Vipera nestled below a traps belonging to the family decaying wooden rampart. Halictophagidae (a probable

After a scramble down a secure new species); a female found in A free-flying path to the base we noted a a solitary andrenid bee, strepsipteran male sharp drop in temperature and probably pertaining to the collected in Romania (family Halictophagidae) the faint sound of rushing family Stylopidae, and a © A. Hayward water, to the side a large cavern number of individuals led diagonally downwards. belonging to the genus Xenos Minutes later we arrived at a found in individuals from deep subterranean river swelled several nests of the paper wasp with rain; in the afternoon we Polistes. All of which will have were able to find the overland important contributions to my source on the other side of the DPhil’s research. These

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Plant Biology 2008 Joint Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plant Biologists & Sociedad Mexicana De Bioquimica Rama: Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular de Plantas 26th June – 1st July 2008, Merida, Mexico

Armando Bravo Garcia . University of Oxford

ith almost 1,000 scientists latter, presented a slightly Wfrom 40 different controversial talk about The five-day meeting countries, mainly Mexico and transgenic plants and their the USA, this year’s Joint release into the field. Each day, included talks from a wide Annual Meeting between the one or two sessions with range of fields in plant American Society of Plant symposium talks were followed Biologists and the Mexican by four different mini-symposia molecular biology, from Biochemical Society took place that ran simultaneously. Each in the gorgeous city of Merida, mini-symposium included four environmental physiology, in south-east Mexico. With talks about key aspects in their wonderful weather and respective subjects. tropical agriculture and root hospitable Mexicans, all the The only frustration was the presentations were given in a biology, to genome fact that so many interesting new convention centre in the talks were taking place north of the city. The five-day evolution, plant systems simultaneously, and so it was meeting included talks from a impossible to attend all of biology and epigenetics. wide range of fields in plant them. Of particular interest to molecular biology, from me were the symposia about environmental physiology, photosynthesis and organelle tropical agriculture and root biology, because they related to biology, to genome evolution, my work on plastid plant systems biology and on tropical trees, crop species development. Also, the talks on epigenetics. Almost every field like maize, tomato and rice, and gene regulation and genome encompassed in plant even more exotic species like evolution were very interesting, molecular biology was cassava (Manihot esculenta), covering different aspects of included, with a fair amount of giving the audience the their respective fields. The scientists presenting posters or opportunity to diversify their variety of systems used by the talks. knowledge. different research groups was The opening symposium impressive, in particular the During lunchtime, every day, included three talks from three fact that researchers were the poster sessions provided me outstanding researchers: looking beyond model with the chance to find out Samuel Zeeman, Sarah Hake organisms such as Arabidopsis about people outside the UK and Luis Herrera-Estrella. The thaliana. Talks were presented working in the same field as I

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am. This allowed me to directly development in two distantly industry, government and approach them and have related plant species”. It is funding bodies) were invited to interesting conversations about quite comforting to meet an informal dinner and talk our research, to network with scientists interested in one’s with students like me. It was different people and to make own work, and also to get very helpful to hear about contacts for future work feedback on it. This in itself different ways to do research or prospects (i.e. post-doc was a highlight for me. be involved in research, positions). Again, the variety of especially now that I am close In total, 6 key symposia, 28 the posters was so wide, that to the end of my PhD and have mini-symposia and 740 posters decisions had to be made in to make decisions about the divided into 52 categories were order to have enough time to future. In summary, the Plant presented in Plant Biology 2008 visit the most relevant ones, Biology 2008 meeting was very meeting. Additionally, a few and, if lucky, to find the person well organized, a great success, small workshops were provided responsible for the research. and an exciting opportunity for for anyone interested. Two of This showed me that there are people like me to learn and them, one of which I attended, more people working in the network within the scientific dealt with career advice. The same field (or a closely related community. I am very grateful workshop I went to was entitled one) than I thought, and to the Genetics Society for “Getting the most out of the allowed me a good exchange of funding my participation in it. Postdoc experience”, and was useful information. indeed useful. Prominent In addition, I presented my investigators covering different doctoral work in a poster experiences of research (like entitled “Chloroplast academic research, teaching,

14th European Meeting of PhD Students in Evolutionary Biology, 8th - 13th September, Einsiedeln, Switzerland.

Ruth McCole . Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, King's College London

he 14th European Meeting meeting of just over 80 to present their work, and the Tof PhD Students in participants had a relaxed and nine guest speakers each Evolutionary Biology intimate feel. Free time was provided an hour-long (EMPSEB) took place in the divided between enjoying meals exploration of their current idyllic town of Einsiedeln, together, swimming in the lake, research. Discussion sessions Switzerland. Surrounded by hiking in the mountains or with the invited speakers were rolling hills and mountains, an relaxing and socialising in the also held over beers in the ancient monastery and perfect venue’s large basement. The evening, some groups settled on lake, the location was four full days were also packed the terrace to watch dusk fall breathtaking. Organised by with student talks, as every over the mountains and discuss and for PhD students, the participant had the opportunity science.

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Throughout the conference, the In a fascinating contribution to talks, idea of ‘cheaters’ in a social system was evoked many times. Peter Meintjes of the University of Auckland, New David Queller, of Rice University, Texas, USA, Zealand, discussed cheaters in an altogether more discussed the organisation of the social amoeba Dictyostelium positive light. His model for the evolution of multi- discoideum. These single-celled organisms come together upon cellularity begins with a single-celled organism that starvation to form fruiting after cell division does not separate. bodies which produce spores that can disperse to a better location, supported by a stalk is puzzling why more queens do Cheaters may not produce the in which all the cells will die. It not develop in hives in an signalling molecules necessary has been possible to identify attempt to ‘cheat the system’ for quorum sensing, but still ‘cheater’ mutants which when and produce young themselves, benefit from the receipt of mixed with wildtype instead of becoming sterile those signals and the group dictyostelium cells enter the workers. Some of this problem behaviours they elicit. These fruiting bodies in higher than is resolved by the complex ideas have applications for normal proportions. In this patterns of genetic relatedness medicine, as Ashleigh’s way, the ‘cheaters’ are able to between different members of experiments showed that mice benefit from the production of the hive. However it was found infected with quorum sensing the stalk, without suffering the that in many different species, deficient bacteria (cheats) are cost of cell death by being caste is actually enforced by less likely to die from the included. One such cheater ‘policing’ i.e. killing of excess infection. This is because the mutant is the csaA gene, which queen larvae, either by the cheats can’t engage in all the encodes a cell adhesion protein. queen or by other workers. group behaviours that cause Before dispersal, amoebae form bacterial infections to be so Ashleigh Griffin from the a ‘slug’ and move together to a effective and virulent. When University of Edinburgh, UK location where they form the considering infections which spoke about cheaters in fruiting bodies. Cells mutant for have been present in the host bacteria in her plenary talk. csaA slide to the back of the for a long period of time, such Bacteria often engage in slug end up predominantly in as in the lungs of cystic fibrosis behaviour that can be described the fruiting body. However, sufferers, it may be important as a ‘public good’, where each under the more difficult to consider the evolution of the member of the group does conditions of the wild, csaA bacteria in the situation, something, such as mutants are not as successful, including the possible manufacturing a signalling as they cannot aggregate into a emergence of cheats which lack molecule, which benefits the slug on soil’s uneven surface. quorum sensing, which might group as a whole. An example This highlights another theme be treated in different ways. of this is in quorum sensing, of the meeting – the importance where bacteria signal their In a fascinating contribution to of examining effects of the presence to one another so that the student talks, Peter laboratory environment and the group as a whole can tell Meintjes of the University of how it can differ from the the population density at any Auckland, New Zealand, natural world. time. In this way, the group is discussed cheaters in an Cheaters were also mentioned able to decide when enough altogether more positive light. by Tom Wenseleers of Katholic members are present (group is His model for the evolution of University Leuven, Belgium. In quorate) for engaging in new multicellularity begins with a the context of social insects, it behaviours to be worthwhile. single-celled organism that

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after cell division does not separate. Many of these cells could form a group that exists together. However, the group needs to be able to reproduce new groups in different locations, via a primordial germ-line in a manner analogous to multicellular organisms. In his model, cheater cells that arise could benefit from the actions of the group but are not obligate members; they can leave and found new groups, allowing reproduction. Peter is now attempting to use the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens to evolve such a system of group formation and foundation of new groups in the lab. best student talk was awarded Monastery: the Benedictine Einsiedeln Abbey. © R McCole Other highlights from the to Aniek Ivens of the University student talks included Rudy of Groningen, Netherlands. Jonker, Wageningen University, Her talk on the evolution of Netherlands, with the most mutualisms between different amusingly named talk, “How to species explained the lose a kid in 10 months”. The theoretical and practical Barnacle goose, Branta aspects of her project with leucopsis, exists in several clarity and style. European populations with In all, the 14th EMPSEB was a different migration patterns. huge success, due to the Rudy is studying the length of tremendous efforts of the parental care in these different organising committee from populations, as these geese Switzerland, headed by Ralph have a culturally transmitted Dobler of the University of migration strategy and so are Basel. Traditionally the expected to exercise different organisers for the next year are levels of parental care in the chosen at the end of the different populations. Rudy has conference and so the 15th also studied the changes in EMPSEB conference will be timing of the start of migration organised by the Dutch over some decades and how this participants and held in the corresponds with the point at Netherlands next year. My which adult geese abandon thanks to the organisers and their young. participants for making the Decided by the organising 14th EMPSEB fascinating and committee, the prize for the great fun.

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20th International Pig Veterinary Society Congress (IPVS), 22nd – 26th June 2008, Durban, South Africa

Craig R G Lewis . The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh

June of 2008 was a month full of vaccination and risk experience for me. Thanks to assessment software, Prof. the Genetics Society I was able Michael Murtaugh (University to attend the 20th International of Minnesota) who talked about Pig Veterinary Congress (IPVS) tools for PRRS elimination and that was, for the first time, recommendations for future hosted on the African vaccine research and Dr. Lucina continent. The congress was Galina-Pantoja (PIC) who held in the “leading convention presented work showing alleles centre in Africa” (award winner favourable to litter size in sows for the last six years) in sunny affected by PRRSV. The new Durban on the coast of Indian perspectives that all of the Ocean and in the heart of the speakers shared will After the congress I also had Safari Jeep, the chance to see some of South somewhere inland. homeland of the Zulu people. doubtlessly be utilised in © CRG Lewis papers and the overall Africa. Thanks in part to the The five-day congress was an discussion in my thesis. junior scientists travel grant I outstanding experience. To received from the Genetics illustrate the overwhelming The conference scientific Society I travelled inland to see nature of the congress I will committee also allowed me to a pig processing plant and talk draw on a few statistics: 2199 present my work entitled with industry people in South registered delegates, 8 keynote “Genetic parameters for Africa about pig production, lectures, 295 oral presentations commercially important traits diseases, business and breeding, and 623 poster presentations. on a farm infected with porcine this was a once in a lifetime Indeed within my field of reproductive and respiratory opportunity I was glad not to Porcine Reproductive and syndrome (PRRS) virus: Can we miss. I also had the Respiratory Syndrome research use selection to help solve the opportunity to go on safari and there were 83 abstracts to keep PRRS problem?” as an oral to see the animals I only me busy. presentation. My talk went usually see in Edinburgh zoo in really well and I was asked Of course with so many their natural environment. many insightful questions both abstracts and such a high This was a truly humbling and directly after the talk and at tea calibre of presentation it would breathtaking experience. I also afterwards. be impossible to mention all of realised a childhood dream to the great talks but stand out It goes without saying that at a see the mighty warthog boar speakers did include: Dr. Dale congress of this size there are fighting, through the dense Polson (Boehringer Ingelheim) many networking opportunities African undergrowth. I now on PRRS (porcine reproductive and I made the most of my return to Roslin rested, wiser, and respiratory syndrome) opportunity to speak with field and full of enthusiasm for the eradication on-farm utilising leading scientists. remainder of my PhD.

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Human Genome Variation Meeting 2008 15th – 17th October 2008, Toronto Canada

Susan Walker . Institute of Genetics, University of Nottingham

rom its first meeting of a talks were concerned with Fhandful of like-minded investigations on a genome individuals gathered to discuss wide scale. There were sessions the prospects for studying focused on investigating the human variation, the Human extent to which individual Genome Variation meeting has genomes differ, particularly in come along way. For its tenth copy number variants and Rapid development with GWAS also stimulated anniversary, this year’s meeting other structural changes, and extensive debate of a more ethical nature (which saw over 250 delegates from 70 others discussing patterns of continued at an off-site symposium), primarily different countries gather at population differentiation in discussing the prospects for personalised the beautiful setting of the Old the variants observed. On medicine, the importance of not making too Mill on the bank of the Humber numerous occasions were we much of our findings and losing public trust. River in Toronto. reminded of the vast number of There was also deliberation on aspects of data Genome Wide Association protection and how much data from GWAS In recent years, we have Studies (GWAS) now should be made publicly available, risking witnessed massive identifying correlations identification of individuals from cohorts. developments in the between variants and technologies available for In addition, there was a keynote presentation phenotypes and recent data was studying human variation, from Svante Pääbo. This came in the form of a presented from Type II which has lead to an explosion refreshing digression into the challenges faced in diabetes, height and obesity in our knowledge of both single studying Neanderthal Genomics and the studies. This prompted nucleotide variants and much progress that has been made in investigating the significant discussion of larger structural and copy divergence of the modern human, Neanderthal challenges we now face, firstly number changes. As these and Chimpanzee. in differentiating true variants are uncovered, we are associations from false positive Overall, it was a hugely interesting meeting from beginning to appreciate their results and secondly on how to which the general feeling was of excitement at contributions to phenotypic discover causal variants. The the immense quantity of data that is being differences. To accommodate massive amount of data being generated and the discoveries being made. The the fast moving pace of the generated by both investigative excitement was tempered with some uncertainty field, the meeting was and association studies as to where and how to take these findings structured to give ample highlighted the requirement for forward. However, there was a hugely unifying opportunity for discussion and new databases to store the data sentiment that by sharing information through speakers had been asked not to in ways which can be used by openly available databases and establishing submit titles to encourage individuals worldwide. To collaborations throughout the world, these are presentation of their most serve this growing need, now issues that need not be tackled by single recent findings. multiple fledgling databases individuals but by an ever growing community of Not surprisingly, given the were presented: some help individuals with common goals. fantastic power of both array catalogue the sheer volume of platforms and new sequencing diversity discovered and others technologies to investigate aim to help in establishing whole genomes in a single links between variants and experiment, the majority of phenotypes.

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The 7th Annual Meeting of the Complex Trait Consortium 31st May – 3rd June 2008, Montréal, Canada

Alex Lam . Roslin Institute and University of Edinburgh

fter having been stranded of Tennessee and Gary McGill University Aat Charles de Gaulle Churchill of the Jackson campus with downtown Montreal in airport because of an engine Laboratory. As expected, after a the background. problem and subsequently series of brother-sister mating, © A Lam. stayed overnight at an airport the lines are becoming more hotel nearby, I arrived at and more inbred. This has some Montreal some 30 hours since I impact on fertility and survival stepped out of my front door in in some of the lines. Differences Edinburgh. Rain was pouring in behaviour between lines are down and it was much colder also becoming apparent, than I expected for Montreal in illustrated by video footage. first-hand account on how summertime. In fact it felt just The CTC anticipate that they prevalent CNVs are in the like a normal day in Edinburgh, will be on course to complete human genome and the except I was really quite sleepy. the breeding program in two difficulties with current I turned up just in time for the years time. technology in detecting CNVs. registration at McGill In the second half Steve Non-CC related talks began on University. My determination entertained us with some of the Sunday morning, with Philippe to stay awake was rewarded by success stories he and his Gros of McGill University a warm welcome at the colleagues have experienced giving his keynote speech on reception and some fruity recently in understanding the host-pathogen interactions in Quebecois beer. genetics of autism. CNVs were malaria infection in mice. The shown to be associated with The Complex Trait Consortium second keynote speaker was certain defects in mental (CTC) was first set up to Steve Scherer from the Sick developments in some cases manage an ambitious project of Kids Hospital in Toronto. His where previous rounds of creating 1000 lines of talk on Tuesday was quite a screening using single laboratory mice, collectively breath of fresh air for the nucleotide polymorphisms called the Collaborative Cross heavily mouse-centric (SNPs) alone had failed to (CC), which will have fine conference as it covered the account for the clinical mosaic genomes of eight latest, most trendy topic in observation in case families. commonly used mouse strains genetics - copy number variants for genetic mapping. The CTC (CNVs), in relation to human Over the three days, there were meets every year to report on studies. Steve began with a many 20 minute talks as well as breeding progress as well as to provide a platform for scientists who are interested in areas such as quantitative trait loci As expected, after a series of brother-sister mating, (QTL) analysis and systems the lines are becoming more and more inbred. This genetics to present their work. The meeting began on Saturday has some impact on fertility and survival in some of afternoon with an update on CC by Rob Williams of University the lines.

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two excellent poster sessions Most relevant to my PhD studies were talks on the over a cup of coffee and one or five yummy, but probably methodological aspects of gene expression QTL rather unhealthy, doughnuts. Luckily, my talk was scheduled analysis, but some of the talks I found most in the morning session on Sunday, so I could actually interesting were those accounts where QTL mapping relax and enjoy listening to the talks for the rest of the has been an absolute success. conference. As I do not work on mice and I am a solely desk- based geneticist, it was a real statistical geneticist, it is animal models remains an eye opener to learn about the particularly pleasing to hear indispensible tool in combating work by others combining about how results from multifactorial inherited forward and reverse genetics to “number crunching” exercises diseases. advance our understanding in can lead to hypotheses being the molecular mechanisms All in all, the meeting was tested on the bench in animal underlying complex traits. absolutely fantastic. There was models and taken all the way to Although most of the a very friendly atmosphere, and patients in the clinics. participants were mouse plenty of interaction with all geneticists, there were also I also very much enjoyed the the participants, from eminent some contributions from people talk by Inga Murawski from geneticists to budding young working with fruit flies, rats McGill University about Vesico- scientists. During the several and dogs. Most relevant to my Ureteric Reflux (VUR), a days I spent in Montreal, I made PhD studies were talks on the human congenital urinary tract a lot of new friends and methodological aspects of gene defect in which urine in the contacts whom I look forward expression QTL analysis, but bladder flows back up the to meeting again in the future. some of the talks I found most ureters into the kidneys, Next year, the conference will interesting were those accounts causing kidney damage. In be in Manchester, so it should where QTL mapping has been humans the disease shows a take a lot less than 30 hours to an absolute success. For high degree of clinical get there. I would like to thank example, in studying inter- heterogeneity, hence successful the Genetics Society for the individual variability in pain replication of disease making it possible for me to sensitivity, Jeffrey Mogil’s susceptibility loci from human attend the meeting. group characterized a coding association studies of VUR has variant in the gene encoding for been elusive. Inga, however, the beta 3 subunit of the has managed to show some sodium potassium ion pump as promising results in QTL a novel determinant of pain mapping in mice as more direct sensitivity. The experiment phenotyping can be carried out began with a QTL mapping on studying the ureteric bud exercise using an intercross formation as well as the length between a resistant and a of the intravesical ureters in sensitive inbred mouse strain. inbred crosses. Despite that Had the QTL experiment not human genome-wide been carried out, they admitted association studies have been that nobody would have grabbing much of the attention thought about selecting the ion in high impact journals in more pump as a candidate gene for recent times, Inga’s work pain sensitivity. For me as a demonstrated that the use of

48 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 60 TRAVEL GRANTS FOR JUNIOR SCIENTISTS 49

DNA Replication and Genome Integrity

18th – 21st July 2008, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, USA

Michelle Hawkins . The University of Nottingham

he fifth DNA Replication yeast will eventually serve as a The first full day saw talks on Tand Genome Integrity model organism for stem cell subjects ranging from meeting took place at the Salk lineage specificity. Later in the replication initiation and forks Institute, which overlooks the conference Thomas Rando to origin regulation and cancer Pacific Ocean just north of San presented results in a similar therapeutics. Highlights Diego. Organised jointly by vein which showed that there is included David MacAlpine and Salk, Caltech and USC, a asymmetric segregation of Joyce Hamlin talking about packed schedule of 64 talks in sister chromatids in muscle global characterisation and just over three days meant a cells. This asymmetry is in identification of replication huge range of topics could be accordance with the immortal origins in Drosophila and covered through talks from strand hypothesis proposed by mammals respectively. researchers across three Cairns in 1975, where the Replication origins are a long- continents. differentiated cell inherits standing interest of mine so newly replicated DNA while the these talks were fascinating. A Rodney Rothstein got things stem cell retains the old DNA three hour poster session underway with the keynote strands. It was pleasing to see enabled more detailed lecture describing his groups new data supporting an old discussion between attendees work characterising novel controversial theory and there and the 40 posters presented genes that affect rad52 foci are many more exciting were varied and complemented formation in budding yeast. He questions to be addressed on many of the talks given over also discussed lineage-specific this topic. the course of the meeting. I asymmetric division in budding yeast. Components of the kinetochore and centromere segregate asymmetrically and he speculated that this might Highlights included David MacAlpine and Joyce be involved with non-random Hamlin talking about global characterisation and segregation of centromeric sequences leading to identification of replication origins in Drosophila establishment of different cell lineages. Perhaps budding and mammals respectively.

www.genetics.org.uk . 49 TRAVEL GRANTS FOR JUNIOR SCIENTISTS 50

presented a poster describing these areas. Personally I was on all aspects of my favourite our work isolating and pleased to see a talk given by topic ensured I got a lot out of characterising the replication Tomoki Yokochi who was a it. “The awesome power of origins in the archaeon colleague a few years ago, it …insert your system Haloferax volcanii. I enjoyed was nice to see what my old here…genetics” was almost the showing what can be done group has been working on meeting slogan and exemplified technically in a “non- lately. Steve Kowalczykowski’s the point that there are many traditional” model organism elegant method of visualising ways to get at the same and highlighting how our recombinational DNA repair at question. For my part, the “we findings show similarities and the single-molecule level was don’t know how this happens” differences from the eukaryotic also a treat; you can’t get bored type of comments inspired me. origins that were the focus of watching real-time examples of This conference reminded me the conference. foci formation! The final day that there is still so much to do focused on genome stability in this field and I look forward As the topic moved from my and epigenetics and included to making a contribution. I primary interest of DNA the one E.coli talk of the would like to thank The replication to DNA repair and meeting by Susan Lovett. She Genetics Society for partially epigenetics I became less described her group’s model for funding my conference familiar with the content and recA-independent template expenses. learnt a lot of acronyms in a switch fork repair and their short space of time! search for the key proteins Replication timing, telomeres involved. and centromere were topics that came up repeatedly and it Overall this conference was was a refreshing chance to well worth attending. The catch up on the research in excellent organisation and talks

The architect Louis Kahn created a welcoming and inspiring environment for scientific research at the Salk Institute.

© Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 2.0 License.

50 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 60 TRAVEL GRANTS FOR JUNIOR SCIENTISTS 51

Auxin 2008 meeting

4th – 9th October 2008, Marrakech, Morocco

Michalis Barkoulas . Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford

f you find an international square is full of dancers, of plant development; therefore Imeeting whose main topic musicians, story-tellers, snake- there is always considerable coincides with the main charmers and orange juice variety in the talks. This year’s interest of your research, this is sellers. By night, the square meeting was very successful, of course really nice. But if the turns into an open air gathering more than 150 above meeting takes place restaurant with tables and participants who have been at somewhere you always wanted benches set up to accommodate the forefront of the top to go, then you are really lucky! visitors, mostly locals, who scientific discoveries in the This is exactly how I felt after want to try traditional field. The meeting was reading the official Moroccan dishes like couscous conveniently organised with announcement for the auxin and tajines, together with a cup two morning and two evening 2008 meeting that was of the traditional mint tea. sessions per day, covering a organised last October in variety of subjects such as But what about the meeting Morocco. auxin biosynthesis and auxin itself? The auxin meetings are signalling in relation to plant Morocco is a destination I have organised once every four years growth and development. The always wanted to visit and, in and, as the name suggests, they meeting also benefited from retrospect, all my expectations are focused on the current daily poster sessions that were fulfilled. The amazing advances in the field of auxin allowed sufficient interaction aspect about Morocco is that is biology. Auxin is a small, non- time between poster presenters so near to Europe, and yet it is peptide plant hormone, which and all meeting participants. so different. Although takes its name from the Greek Marrakech is a very touristic word “afxano” meaning “to There were three keynote Moroccan city, it maintains a grow”. Although auxin speakers: Ben Scheres strong local identity, making it meetings are themed on a (University of Utrecht, The relatively easy for the visitor to single plant hormone, they are Netherlands) who also gave an get a good flavour of the local not overly specialised. This is eloquent opening lecture of the lifestyle. Picturesque alleyway- mainly because auxin is meeting, Ning Zheng type markets, colourful involved in virtually all aspects (University of Washington, architecture and beautiful weather all compose Marrakech’s unique character. The main attraction of the city Although Marrakech is a very touristic Moroccan is the central square, Djemaa el city, it maintains a strong local identity, making it Fna, which is located within the old fortified city and is relatively easy for the visitor to get a good flavour thought to be the largest square in Africa. In the morning, the of the local lifestyle.

www.genetics.org.uk . 51 TRAVEL GRANTS FOR JUNIOR SCIENTISTS 52

USA) and Thomas Laux Marrakech by night; (University of Freiburg, the Djemaa el Fna Germany) who gave the final seminar just before the departure. Over the last decade, Ben Scheres has been a leader in the root development field and has published a number of outstanding papers on how auxin gradients, together with the PLETHORA (PLT) transcription factors, regulate the positioning of stem cells in the root meristem. However, to everybody’s surprise, in this meeting Ben Scheres presented some data on shoot and not root development. His group has recently discovered that plt substrate recruitment by TIRI, relative of A. thaliana, can be loss-of-function mutants also and Ning Zheng discussed the used to understand the auxin- show abnormal positioning of implications of these findings dependent evolution of leaf floral organs, putting forward on human drug discovery. shape in crucifer plants, and the idea that an auxin-PLT Finally, Thomas Laux Luiz Irina Calderon-Villalobos feedback loop may operate not presented the latest data from (Indiana University, USA) only in root patterning, but also his group on the role of the presented data on the evolution in the shoot architecture. One WUSHEL related homeobox of auxin signalling with of the major advances in the genes in the early stages of experiments performed in moss. auxin field was the recent plant embryogenesis and the Overall, it was a very identification of the F-box subsequent formation of the interactive meeting with lively, protein TRANSPORT plant body axis. informal discussions following INHIBITOR RESPONSE1 (TIR1) Most of the talks were focused every talk. I am very thankful as an auxin receptor. Auxin on the model plant species to the Genetics society for binding to TIR1 results in the Arabidopsis thaliana, but there funding my trip and thus proteasome-dependent were a few exceptions. For allowing me to contribute to degradation of its substrates, example, Paula McSteen (Penn what proved to be a week of some of which are known State University, USA) very exciting and fully inhibitors of the auxin presented her latest data on enjoyable scientific activity. signalling. To obtain a detailed auxin and inflorescence understanding of the development in maize, and Cris interaction between auxin and Kuhlemeier (University of its receptor, Ning Zheng and his Bern, Switzerland) presented colleagues obtained X-ray some new transport-based crystal structures of the auxin models for phyllotaxis and vein receptor TIR1 alone and in formation in tomato. In complex with auxin and addition, Miltos Tsiantis substrate polypeptides. Their (University of Oxford, UK) results excitingly revealed a discussed how Cardamine novel role for the plant hirsuta, a compound leaf hormone in enhancing

52 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 60 53 GRANTS

Genetics Society raduate students may apply for travel costs to attend these meetings. The cheapest Gform of travel should be used if possible and student railcards used if travel is by one-day meetings train. Airfares will only be refunded in exceptional circumstances. Grants for overnight accommodation are not available. Applications for travel grants should be made using the registration form, before the final deadline for the meeting.

Meetings with hese include the annual Arabidopsis, C. elegans, S. pombe and Pop Group Tmeetings. Graduate Students may apply for travel grants to attend these Genetics Society meetings. Applications should be sent to the Genetics Society, at least one month Sponsorship before the meeting. The cheapest form of travel should be used if possible and student railcards used if travel is by train. Airfares will only be refunded in exceptional circumstances.

Genetics Society hD students and postdocs (within two years of viva) who have been members of Pthe Genetics Society for at least one year may apply for grants of up to £300 to Travel Grants for attend conferences in the area of Genetics that are not sponsored by the Genetics Junior Scientists Society (Please note a maximum of one grant every three years will be awarded to any junior scientist). Applications should be submitted by email at least one month before the meeting, to the GenSoc Office ([email protected]) using message subject “TGJS application“ and your surname. Applications should include a brief outline of the value of the meeting to the applicant, an outline of any presentation to be made at the meeting and estimated costs. Please ask your supervisor to send a very brief email in support. Recipients of travel grants will be asked to write a short report that may be included in the newsletter.

Heredity Fieldwork and Training Grants supporting field-based genetic research and training

urpose: To provide grants from £1,000 to £1,500 to cover the travel and accommodation costs associated with pursuing a Pfield-based genetic research project or in visiting another laboratory for training (i.e. to learn a new technique). The scheme is not intended to cover the costs of salaries for those engaged in fieldwork or training, or to fund attendance at conferences. The work should include a strong genetical component. Eligibility: The scheme is open to any member of the Genetics Society who has been a member for at least one year. The research field should be one from which results would typically be suitable for publication in the Society's journal Heredity. Only one application from any research group will be admissible in any one year. Applications should be made using the form available on the Genetics Society's web page. The application form requests a short summary of the research project for which funds are sought. This should explain the role of the proposed field research in the overall project, and indicate how the grant will be used to facilitate the field research. A detailed budget for the fieldwork will be required, as well as an outline of other possible sources of funding. Applications from PhD students or post-docs should be accompanied by a letter (or e-mail) of support from your supervisor or lab head. Closing date: There is one closing date of 31st January each year. Awards will be announced within two months of the closing date to allow time for fieldwork preparation. At the end of the grant a short report will be requested from the grant holder. This should be in a format that is suitable for publication in the Genetics Society newsletter. A maximum of one grant per individual every three years will be awarded.

www.genetics.org.uk . 53 GRANTS 54

Genes and Development summer studentships supporting field-based genetic research and training

urpose: To provide financial support for undergraduate students interested in gaining research experience in any Parea of genetics by carrying out a research project over the long vacation, usually prior to their final year. Eligibility: Studentships will only be awarded to students who have yet to complete their first degree i.e. those who will still be undergraduates during the long vacation when the studentship is undertaken. There are no restrictions concerning the nationality or membership status of the student, and the student does not have to attend a UK university. A maximum of 40 studentships will be awarded. The studentship will consist of an award of £225 per week for up to 10 weeks to the student plus a grant of up to £750 to cover expenses incurred by the host laboratory. Both elements of cost must be justified. The award will be made to the host institution. Applications are invited from members of the Genetics Society who have been members on or before the deadline of March 31st, and who run a research group within a University or Research Institute or a commercial research facility. Applications must be for a named student and must include the student's CV together with a reference from their tutor (or equivalent). Undergraduate students are encouraged to seek a sponsor and to develop a project application with the sponsor. A panel of members of the Genetics Society committee will review applications. Feedback on unsuccessful applications will not be provided. The successful applicants will be required to submit a short report from the students within two months of completion of the project. Full details and on-line application form are available at the Genetics Society website

Sir Kenneth Mather Memorial Prize

his is an annual prize of £150 to reward a BSc, MSc or PhD student of any UK University or Research Institution Twho has shown outstanding performance in the areas of quantitative or population genetics. Nominations should be made between July 1st and November 1st inclusive of each year through the local Head of Department or School of the nominee. Nominations should consist of no more than one page of A4, setting out the case for the nomination, including relevant comparison with other students where possible. Nominations should be sent to the Head of School, School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, clearly labelled as a nomination for "The Sir Kenneth Mather Memorial Prize". Nominations will be assessed by a panel of two people with experience in the area of quantitative/population genetics, one from the University of Birmingham and the other nominated by the UK Genetics Society. Decisions will be announced in December each year.

54 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 60 Personal Subscription Order Form 2009

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AIMS postdocs. Promega UK is The Genetics Society was The Genetics Society was sponsoring travel to these founded in 1919 and is one of meetings and prizes for the best founded in 1919 and is one of the world’s first societies contributions, plus costs for the devoted to the study of the three winners to attend the the world’s first societies mechanisms of inheritance. following Spring Meeting and Famous founder members national finals. devoted to the study of the included William Bateson, JBS Haldane and AW Sutton. INVITED LECTURES mechanisms of inheritance. Membership is open to anyone The Mendel Lecture, in honour with an interest in genetical of the founder of modern research or teaching, or in the genetics, is given usually on with cytogenetics, with ecological, evolutionary practical breeding of plants and alternate years at a London and bio-metrical genetics and also with plant and animals. Meeting by an internationally animal breeding; and Genes and Development, distin-guished geneticist. which is jointly owned with Cold Spring Harbor MEETINGS Laboratories and which is concerned with The main annual event of the To encourage younger molecular and developmental aspects of genetics. Society is the Spring Meeting. geneticists, the Balfour This has at least one major Lectureship (Named after our Full and student members are entitled to reduced symposium theme with invited Founder President) recognises subscriptions both to these journals and also to speakers, and a number of the contribution to genetics of Genetical Research, published by Cambridge contributed papers and/or an outstanding young University Press, to Trends in Genetics, a poster sessions. investigator, who must monthly journal published by Elsevier with normally have less than ten review articles of topical interest aimed at the One day mini-symposia are held years postdoctoral research general reader, Nature Genetics, published by during the year in different experience at the time of the Nature Publishing company (MacMillan regions so that members from lecture. The winner gives the Magazines Limited), Current Biology journals, different catchment areas and lecture at the Spring Meeting. BioEssays and Chromosome Research. specialist groups within the society can be informed about INTERNATIONAL LINKS A newsletter is sent out twice a year to inform subjects of topical, local and The Society has many overseas members about meetings, symposia and other specialist interest. Like the members and maintains links items of interest. spring symposia these include with genetics societies in other papers both from local countries through the Inter- SPECIALIST INTERESTS members and from invited national Genetics Federation, Six specialist interest areas are covered by speakers. One of these meetings the Federation of European elected Committee Members: Gene Structure, always takes place in London in Genetics Societies and through Function and Regulation; Genomics; Cell & November. the International Union of Developmental Genetics; Applied and Microbiological Societies. Quantitative Genetics; Evolutionary, Ecological YOUNG GENETICISTS’ and Population Genetics; Corporate Genetics and MEETINGS PUBLICATIONS Biotechnology. The Committee Members are Currently there are three The Society publishes two responsible for ensuring that the various local meetings devoted to talks and major international scientific and national meetings cover all organisms within posters by students and junior journals: Heredity, concerned the broad spectrum of our members’ interests.

56 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 60 membership form Membership includes free online subscription to Heredity

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