Issue 62.qxd:Genetic Society News 1/10/10 14:38 Page 1

JANUARYJANUARY 2010 | ISSUEISSUE 62 GENETICSGENNETICSS SOCIETYSOCIEETY NENEWSEWS

In this issue The Genetics Society NewsNewws is edited by U Darwin and DeveDevelopmentelopment Meeting Steve Russell and items forf futurefuture issues can be sent to the editor,editorr, preferably preferably by U Genetics and thee Causes of Evolution Meeting email to [email protected],[email protected], or hardhard U Obituary for HugHughh Rees copy to Department of Genetics,G U Universityniversity of Cambridge, Downing Street,Street, Cambridge U ATATaxi axi Driver WWritesrittes CB2 3EH. The NewsletterNewsletteer is published U Student TTravelravel ReReportseportsp twice a year,year, with copy dates d of 1st June and 26th November.November. U HerHeredityedity FieldwoFieldworkrk Reports

Drosophila montana collectedcollected in Finland as part of a HeredityHereditty fieldwork study by Paris VeltsosVeltsos of St Andrews Andrews University.University. See Seee the Report on page 35. ImageImage © Paris Veltsos. Veltsos. Issue 62.qxd:Genetic Society News 1/10/10 14:38 Page 2

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

A word from the editor

Welcome to issue 62. the Genetics Society, and a immediately freely available meeting on Epigenetics on first publication. Clearly This issue welcomes in the new celebrating 25 years of this policies designed to allow free decade: if we consider the thriving field. access to data need to be breathtaking progress biology cognisant of the efforts of has made since the turn of the As usual we have a collection of particular research groups. I Century, particularly due to meeting reports from students also had a few emails from advances in genome who have received travel grants readers supporting the sequencing, then the next 10 and in this issue I have also general concept of data availability. Tom Moore years should be truly elected to focus on reports from from University College Cork raised the issue of remarkable for genetics. The Heredity Fieldwork Grants. the way the commercial suppliers of reagents or prospect of very cheap genome These are available to any resources frequently fail to disclose critical sequencing promises new society member, irrespective of details (antigen epitopes or vector sequences), insights into all areas of age or qualification, and can citing commercial confidentiality, that leave genetics, particularly in the facilitate fieldwork or visits to researchers in difficult positions. Clearly the field of population and other labs. We also have a whole area is complex but without open and evolutionary biology and not number of reports from Genes rational debate we will not arrive at a position least in areas of human & Development Summer where free data availability improves research genetics and disease. There is studentships available from the outputs but protects considerable personal (or purportedly an old Chinese website since most are commercial) investment. curse - "May you live in generally too long to make it interesting times" - We into the print issue. I am driven by disquiet to get a wee bit political certainly do, although I'm not and draw attention to the campaign to keep libel sure scientists would consider In the last issue I wrote a Taxi laws out of science. As many readers will be this a misfortune. Driver piece on the accessibility aware, English Libel laws are being increasingly of published scientific data and used to stifle critical discussion of some medical In this issue we have meeting this issue sees a couple of practices and scientific evidence. The use of the reports from the organisers of responses to this. The editor of courts in this way is seen by many to be the thin the one-day session, Darwin Heredity, Roger Butlin, has edge of the wedge in terms of free and open and Development, included as written a piece describing the scientific debate. Progress in science has always part of the International journals new Data Policy and relied on open discussion in public fora and Society for Developmental highlighting the initiatives it is literature: there is a growing concern that valid Biology meeting in Edinburgh taking to try and deal with data scientific criticism will be suppressed by well- and from the two-day types where there are no public funded bullies. I urge readers to visit the website discussion meeting on Genetics repositories or standard of the Libel Reform Campaign and the Causes of Evolution formats. It seems to me that (www.libelreform.org), a coalition of groups held in conjunction with the the journal is moving forward including Sense about Science, Index on Royal Society. Both meetings in a sensible and pragmatic Censorship and English PEN, seeking changes to highlighted the importance of way, anyone with any a libel law that is rapidly becoming an Darwin's work in framing a comments to make should international laughing stock. theory underpinning evolution. contact Roger. My fellow Taxi We also have reports for Driver, and weather beaten Cheers sponsored events including the Soay sheep expert Josephine John Innes Centre Centenary Pemberton, highlights the Symposium, an institute with problems of making difficult to Steve Russell longstanding connections with collect longitudinal data University of Cambridge

2 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 62 Issue 62.qxd:Genetic Society News 1/10/10 14:38 Page 3

Issue 62 . January 2010 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 Roger Butlin Heredity Editorial Office, The University of Sheffield, REGULARS Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN Genes and Development (http://genesdev.cshlp.org/) Meeting Announcements 4 - 8 European Editor: Winship Herr, Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Switzerland Mouse Genetics Lessons from Cancer President Mammalian Genetics & Development Prof. Veronica van Heyningen, MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh External Meetings Diary Vice-Presidents Prof. J. Steve Jones, University College London Sectional Interest Groups 9 Prof. John Brookfield, University of Nottingham Prof. Ian Jackson, MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh Genetics Society Business 10 - 16 Honorary Secretary 2010 Annual General Meeting Prof. Patricia E Kuwabara, University of Bristol New Web Site Honorary Treasurer One-day Meetings Prof Josephine Pemberton, University of Edinburgh Heredity news

Scientific Meetings Officer Postgraduate Rep Dr Andrew Ward, University of Bath The Society of Biology

Newsletter Editor Dr Steve Russell, University of Cambridge Genetics Society Meeting Reports 17 - 20 Darwin and Development Postgraduate Representative Genetics and the Causes of Evolution Mr Tom Nowakowski, University of Edinburgh

Ordinary Committee Members Genetics Society Sponsored Events 21 - 23 Dr Mark A. Beaumont, University of Reading John Innes Centenary Dr Tanita Casci, Nature Reviews Genetics Dr Liam Dolan, John Innes Centre, Norwich 25 Years of Epigentics Dr. Anne Donaldson, University of Aberdeen Prof Adam Eyre-Walker, University of Sussex Features 24 - 29 Dr Anne Ferguson-Smith, University of Cambridge Dr DJ Hosken, University of Exeter Nowgen Dr DJ de Koning, Roslin Institute, Midlothian Hugh Rees DFC, FRS Dr Julian Lewis, CRUK London Laboratories SET for Britain Prof Chris Ponting, University of Oxford Prof. Graham Moore, John Innes Centre, Norwich A Taxi Driver Writes Dr Tom Weaver, MRC Mary Lyon Centre, Harwell Student Travel Reports 30 - 34 Design and Print Round & Red Creative . 15 Poole Road 17th C. elegans meeting Woking . Surrey . GU21 6BB European Society for Evolutionary Biology Tel: 01483 596 226 . www.roundandred.com Animal Breeding & Genetics

The Genetics Society News is printed on FSC approved paper. American Society for Human Genetics

Fieldwork and Studentship Reports 35 - 39 Finnish Drosophila Andalusian damselflies Yeast Phenomics

Advertising in Genetics Society News represents an opportunity to reach a large community of professional geneticists. For rates please email [email protected]

www.genetics.org.uk . 3 Issue 62.qxd:Genetic Society News 1/10/10 14:38 Page 4

2010 Spring Meeting Mousee GenetiGeneticsics Think Globally,Glloballyy,, Act LLocally

Friday 23rd23rd April Aprril 2010. Wellcome Wellcome Sanger Saanger Institute, Hinxton, Hinxtton, Cambridge.

The meeting will highlighthighligght SpeakeSpeakersers Featuring complementary approachesapproacches at the Dave AAdamsdams Steve BrBrownown forefrontforefront of mouse gengeneticetic rresearch,esearch, WWellcomeellcomme Sanger Institute, Cambridge MRC Mammalian GenGeneticsnetics Unit, Harwell fromfrom work focussed on specific genes Kathrynn Cheah 2009 Genetics Societyy Medal or systems to large-scalelarge-scale genomics UniversitUniversityty of Hong Kong and mutagenesis programmes.prograammes. It will Gary ChChurchillhurchill AndrAndrewew Jackson include LecturesLectures by Steve Stevve Brown Brown (2009 The JackJacksonkson LaboratoryLaboratory,y,, Bar HarborHarbor,, USAA MRC Human Geneticss Unit, Edinburgh Genetics Societyy Medal)Medal) and AndrewAndrew ElizabetElizabethth Fisher 2010 Balfour LecturLecturee Jackson (2010 Balfour Lecture).LLecture). Institutee of NeurNeurology,ologyy,, UCL Jane HuHursturst Scientific OrganisersOrganiserrs UniversitUniversityty of Liverpool Ian Jackson Bill SkaSkarnesrnes MRC Human Genetics Unit,U Edinburgh WWellcomeellcomme Sanger Institute, Cambridge Anne Ferguson-Smithh Emma WWhitelaw University of Cambridgee QueenslQueenslandand Institute of Medical ResearResearch,ch, AndrewAndrew Ward Ward Australiaa University of Bath

for registration,registrattion, visit www.genetics.org.ukwww.genetiics.org.uk Issue 62.qxd:Genetic Society News 1/10/10 14:38 Page 5

2010 Autumn Meeting Lessons from Cancer for Biology and Genetics

Friday 12th November 2010. The Royal Society, Carlton House Terrace, London.

Genetics has become one of the most widely used tools to study a wide range of biological phenomena. Studies in genetics require the presence of variation to compare and contrast the same system in different states opening the way to deciphering broader biological mechanisms. Cancer studies use the same principle of comparing the functioning of perturbed and “normal” tissues. Over the past three decades since the advent of molecular biology, we have learnt a great deal about developmental control and the functioning of normal cells from the study of aberrant cancers. Our hopes for better cancer treatments are also based on our improved understanding of how malignant transformation and progression might be reverted to normal control.

Speakers Scientific Organisers Terry Rabbitts Andrew Feinberg Veronica van Heyningen Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh UK Anne Ridley Terry Rabbitts Ken Kinzler King’s College London, UK Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Peter Ratcliffe Andrew Ward USA. Oxford, UK University of Bath Ashok Venkitaraman Stuart Orkin Cambridge Cancer Centre, UK Harvard, USA The meeting will include the 2010 Mendel Karen Vousden Hans Clevers Lecture to be delivered by Susan Lindquist, Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK Hubrecht Laboratory, Utrecht, The Netherlands Whitehead Institute, MIT.

Cancer cell chromosomes showing specific translocation

for registration, visit www.genetics.org.uk Issue 62.qxd:Genetic Society News 1/10/10 14:38 Page 6

MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS 6

The Mammalian Genetics and Development Workshop

An annual meeting of the Genetics Society Thursday 19th – Friday 20th November 2009 Institute of Child Health, UCL, 30 Guilford Street, London

he Mammalian Genetics and Development The meeting is traditionally a venue for post-docs and PhD TWorkshop is a small annual meeting that students to talk rather than laboratory heads and so is an aims to cover any aspects of the genetics and excellent training ground and friendly, informal forum for development of mammals. Meetings are based discussing new results. In keeping with this objective, we offer up on the submitted abstracts, and usually include to four prizes to individual post-graduate/post-doctoral presenters diverse topics ranging from early mammalian who, in the opinion of a panel of judges, have given an development (not exclusively human or mouse), outstanding presentation. imprinting and positional cloning of disease Further information will be posted on the Genetics Society genes to human population genetics and website (www.genetics.org.uk) or you can join the MGDW association studies. In recent years, electronic mailing list be sending an email to presentations on other model systems (such as [email protected] chick and zebrafish) have also been included where these relate to general developmental questions or disease models.

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7 EXTERNAL MEETINGS DIARY

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

British Meiosis Meeting Nuclear Organization & Function 29th March 2010 2nd - 7th June 2010 University of Leicester, UK Cold Spring Harbor, New York http://tinyurl.com/britishmeiosis http://meetings.cshl.edu/meetings/ symp10.shtml 54th Ecological Genetics Group Meeting 6th – 8th April 2010 Evolutionary Biology of Caenorhabditis and University of Stirling, UK Other Nematodes www.sbes.stir.ac.uk/egg/ 5th - 8th June 2010 Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge Annual Drosophila Research Conference https://registration.hinxton.wellcome.ac.uk/ 7th - 11th April 2010 display_info.asp?id=171 Washington, D.C. www.drosophila-conf.org/2010/index.shtml Genomic Epidemiology of Malaria 9th - 13th June 2010 8th International conference on the Evolution of Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge Language https://registration.hinxton.wellcome.ac.uk/ 14th - 17th April 2010 display_info.asp?id=172 Utrecht University, Netherlands http://evolang2010.nl/ European Human Genetics Conference 12th - 15th June 2010 Experimental Biology 2010 Gothenburg, Sweden 24th - 28th April 2010 www.eshg.org/eshg2010.html Anaheim, California www.eb2009.org/ WT/P3G Biobank Summer School 2010 30th June - 4th July 2010 3rd Human Variome Project Meeting Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge 10th - 14th May 2010 https://registration.hinxton.wellcome.ac.uk/ Paris, France. display_info.asp?id=173 www.humanvariomeproject.org/meetings/paris/ SEB Annual Meeting The Biology of Genomes 30th June - 3rd July 2010 11th - 15th May 2010 Prague, Czech Republic Cold Spring Harbor, New York www.sebiology.org/meetings/Prague/ http://meetings.cshl.edu/meetings/genome10.shtml Prague.html

40th Annual Behaviour Genetic Association CSHL/Wellcome Trust Systems Biology 2nd - 5th June 2010 11th - 15th August 2010 Seoul, Korea Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge www.icts2010.net http://meetings.cshl.edu/meetings/ netwrkuk10.shtml

www.genetics.org.uk . 7 Issue 62.qxd:Genetic Society News 1/10/10 14:38 Page 8

EXTERNAL MEETINGS DIARY 8

Molecular Genetics of Bacteria & Phages Mammalian Genetics & Development 24th - 28th August 2010 Workshop Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11th – 12th November 2010 http://meetings.cshl.edu/meetings/ phage10.shtml Institute of Child Health, London [email protected] Personal Genomes 10th - 12th September 2010 American Society of Human Genetics Cold Spring Harbor, New York 2nd - 6th November 2010 http://meetings.cshl.edu/meetings/person10.shtml Washington, DC, United States www.conferencealerts.com/seeconf.mv?q=ca1 Infectious Disease Genomics & Global Health mishs 12th - 15th September 2010 Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge Human Genetics Society of Australasia http://meetings.cshl.edu/meetings/pathuk10.shtml Conference 16th - 18th December 2010 Genome Informatics Melbourne, Australia 15th - 19th September 2010 www.hgsa.com.au/index.cfm?pid=111979 Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge http://meetings.cshl.edu/meetings/infouk10.shtml

Molecular Genetics of Aging 26th - 30th October 2010 Cold Spring Harbor, New York http://meetings.cshl.edu/meetings/ mouse10.shtml

If you run an interest group and hold regular meetings, our new web site forum is the perfect place to promote your activities. Simply visit www.genetics.org.uk, log in to our forum and tell us all about it.

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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 54th Ecological Genetics Group Meeting Organiser: Alistair Goldman 6th – 8th April 2010 ([email protected]) University of Stirling http://www.sbes.stir.ac.uk/egg C. elegans Organiser: Stephen Nurrish ([email protected]) Mammalian Genetics & Development Workshop 11th – 12th November 2010 Drosophila Institute of Child Health, London Organiser: David Ish-Horowicz [email protected] ([email protected]) Monthly meetings are organised by: Joe Bateman ([email protected])

Ecological Genetics Group Organiser: Paul Ashton ([email protected])

Genetics Society Pombe Club Organiser: Jacky Hayles ([email protected])

Mammalian Genetics & Development Organisers: Elizabeth M. Fisher and Nick Greene Contact: [email protected]

POP group Organiser: Mike Bruford ([email protected])

www.genetics.org.uk . 9 Issue 62.qxd:Genetic Society News 1/10/10 14:38 Page 10

GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS 10

The Genetics Society Annual General Meeting

Friday 23rd April 2010. The Wellcome Trust, Sanger Institute, Hinxton.

he 2010 Annual General fill these posts only until the time at which the Important Note Meeting of the Genetics previous office-holder’s term would have expired T The 2010 AGM will allow Society will take place on (May 2011), in the first instance. advance voting by email for Friday 23rd April 2010, in the The business will also include the election of an those unable to attend in context of the Society’s Honorary Treasurer (who will shadow the person. Members will be Spring Meeting on Mouse present Honorary Treasurer for 1-year) and a notified by email of the Genetics held at the Sanger Newsletter editor; approval will also be sought motions to be voted on in this Institute, Hinxton, to extend the present Meetings Secretary’s term way, and of the mechanisms Cambridge. The business of office by 1-year. for email voting. To ensure includes the election of new involvement in the AGM by members to the Society, and A list of new members proposed for election to this mechanism, please check of new members to the the Society will be publicised via emails to that the Society has your Society’s Committee, members, and on the Society’s website correct email address. As a including the post-graduate http://www.genetics.org.uk/. Nominations for check, you should have representative. In addition, Committee and Executive sub-Committee received an email due to early resignations from vacancies will be proposed by the Society and communication from the members of the Committee, publicised at a later date by emails to members, Society (Christine Fender: individuals will be elected to and on the Society’s website. [email protected] - on Mon, 16 Nov 2009) Provisional Agenda inviting nominations for the Balfour and GS Medal 1. Minutes of previous General Meeting (Friday May 8th 2009); matters arising competitions; if you did not receive this message, please 2. President's Report contact [email protected] 3. Honorary Treasurer's Report with an email address update. 4. Honorary Secretary's Report and Business for Transaction (a) Balfour Lecturer 2010 (b) Genetics Society Medal 2010 (c) Mendel Lecturer 2010 (c) Applications for new membership (d) Election of new Committee members (e) Election of Honorary Treasurer to shadow present Honorary Treasurer; election of Newsletter editor; one-year extension to the present Meetings Secretary’s term of office 5. AOB

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GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS 11

New Genetics Society Genetics Society Website Launched Meetings

s I am sure most are Aaware, given the excellent attendances we have, the Society organises a regularly series of one-day meeting throughput the year. Generally we hold Spring and Autumn meetings, but we often have three in a year. Meetings are usually held at the Royal Society in London for ease of organisation but other venues across the country can be used. Ideas for one-day meetings come from a broad constituency and the committee always welcome suggestion for meeting topics, which can be focused on any area of genetics. Suggestions, including the names of potential organisers (generally two people) and an indication of the likely range of talks, can be submitted to the Scientific Meetings Secretary, fter a great deal of effort maintain and update. We hope that online [email protected]. Aby our office staff registrations will now be much smoother and Christine Fender and Hazel we are working to add functionality such as Hutchison, working alongside online applications for Society grant schemes. Dave Moxey from Round and When you register with your membership Red Creative, the new number you will have free access to Heredity Genetics Society website is and also be able to view your membership now live. We believe the new details, change your subscription and more. site is much cleaner and The new site also features a forum, we hope easier to navigate. As you can you will help us make this an exciting see the design incorporates discussion board by posting anything of the new branding but, more interst, news of forthcoming meetings or if importantly, it’s the changes you simply need to get something off your under the hood that make it chest that relates to the genetics community. much easier for the office to We look forward to reading your posts.

www.genetics.org.uk . 11 Issue 62.qxd:Genetic Society News 1/10/10 14:38 Page 12

GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS 12

Heredity News

Roger Butlin . Managing Editor, Heredity

Data archiving progress at Heredity

In mid-2009, Heredity introduced a new ‘Data Policy’ in its instructions to authors. It says the following:

“Authors are strongly encouraged to follow established minimum guidelines for the reporting of biological data, wherever appropriate. Guidelines for many relevant data types are available from MIBBI: Minimum Information for Biological and Biomedical Investigations (www.mibbi.org).

DNA sequences published in Heredity must be deposited in a publicly available database, usually EMBL / GenBank / DDBJ, and accession numbers must be included in the final version of the manuscript. Where public databases exist for other data types, such as microarray data (see www.ebi.ac.uk/Databases/microarray.html, for example), they must be used and the relevant reference should be included in the manuscript. Where no public database exists, authors are strongly encouraged to provide the data on which their analyses are based as Electronic Supplementary Information. The data should be formatted for use in a relevant, readily available software package, ideally one which allows data export in a variety of formats (such as CREATE for population genetic data: https://bcrc.bio.umass.edu/pedigreesoftware/node/2). Sufficient metadata (such as sample locations, individual identities, etc.) should be provided to allow easy repetition of analyses presented in the manuscript.

Heredity proposes to make public archiving of data a requirement for publication in the near future and welcomes feedback from authors on this “ proposal (please address comments to [email protected]).

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GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS 13

eaders will immediately An ideal archive should we will join the other journals Rnotice the difference allow easy submission of between ‘must be deposited’ many data types, with in publishing closely linked for sequence and microarray metadata, integrated with data and the rather different the manuscript submission statements on data archiving ‘strongly encouraged’ for other process. data types. This reflects the early in 2010. This will make uncertainty discussed by our The outlook is now changing archiving of all data types a Newsletter Editor, Steve rapidly. Several major Russell in his TaxiDriver journals in ecology and requirement for publication. piece (Issue 61): we have all evolutionary biology benefitted enormously from (American Naturalist, We will be expecting referees the universal archiving of Evolution, Molecular sequence data in GenBank, Ecology, Journal of and editors to police this and almost all scientists agree Evolutionary Biology) have that the data on which joined together in a joint requirement: a small extra published papers are based data archiving initiative. should be available for re- Heredity’s field of interest load, I am afraid, but one that analysis or further study, but overlaps substantially with will be well worth the effort. we are not sure how far to these journals and the policy extend mandatory archiving they propose to adopt fits to other data types. closely with our planned development. Therefore, we forms of data generated in evolutionary Heredity introduced this will join the other journals biology, including evolutionary genetics. The interim policy because there in publishing closely linked result is DRYAD (http://datadryad.org). Dryad were several concerns about statements on data archiving operates like a data library, allowing it to rapidly adopting mandatory early in 2010. This will make contain any data type but restricting the types archiving. It would be good to archiving of all data types a of searches that are possible compared with take a lead on this issue but requirement for publication. sequence data, for example. Data submission might be risky if other We will be expecting referees can be linked to the electronic manuscript journals were not adopting and editors to police this submission systems of member journals. similar policies. It is not clear requirement: a small extra Embargoes can be requested. There is basic that Supplementary load, I am afraid, but one curation of data and metadata files and the Information provides a that will be well worth the data are given a unique identifier which is suitable archive where data effort. linked to the appropriate publication. The joint can be stored in a useable data archiving initiative will recommend form and easily retrieved. A These journals are also Dryad as a data repository but will not restrict suitable archive should also supporting an initiative by the use of other repositories. The Genetics allow temporary embargoes NESCENT, the US National Society Committee is currently considering on some data types, to allow Evolutionary Synthesis whether to join the Dryad Consortium. If you authors to exploit their data Center (www.nescent.org) to have views on Dryad, or data archiving more more fully before release or to create a data repository generally, pleased do contact me or any protect sensitive information. suitable for the very varied committee member.

www.genetics.org.uk . 13 Issue 62.qxd:Genetic Society News 1/10/10 14:38 Page 14

GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS 14

Postgraduate Representative

Tom Nowakowski . University of Edinburgh

uring the last International get to know each other in a training or junior scientist DSociety for Developmental friendly environment outwith grants are always welcome. Biologists (ISDB) congress in the official conference centre. Please refer to the recently Edinburgh, the Genetics We were pleased to receive very refurbished Genetics Society Society organised, in positive feedback and will website for more information conjunction with the British continue such initiatives in the about application procedures Society for Developmental future. A Facebook group for our recently expanded Biology and the British Society “ISDB 2009 Student Social” was grants portfolio available for for Cell Biology, social events created following the young scientists. Additional for younger conference Edinburgh meeting to help information can be found on attendees. Between 300 and 400 students and younger scientists the newly created Facebook students and post-docs as well who attended the social events group “The Genetics Society”, as a few principal investigators to network, exchange opinions moderated by the postgraduate joined a pub-crawl running and swap information about representative of the Society, around Edinburgh’s historic meetings or sponsorship where students can post their Old Town and a Latino-themed opportunities. questions, views and opinions evening including Salsa class as as well as share valuable well as Capoeira and Salsa The Genetics Society will information about meetings performances in El Barrio, one continue its strong involvement and other topics. of Edinburgh’s centrally in student activities via this located clubs. type of social event sponsorship. In addition, Attendees have agreed that applications for funding, Salsa lessons and demonstrations proved popular at the social event. Senzala Group UK performed a Capoeira both events were a great including meetings show and a Salsa performance was thanks to the icebreaker and helped students sponsorship, heredity fieldwork, Edinburgh University Salsa Society.

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PublishedPublished on behalf on behalfof e ofGenetics e Genetics Society Society PublishedPublisheed on on behalf behalf of of e e Genetics Genetics Society Society e essential e essential resource resource e e essential essential resource resourcee for geneticists,for geneticists, www.nature.com/hdyffofororwww.nature.com/hdy geneticists, genetticists, keepingkeeping readers readers Published kkeepingone behalfPublishedepin of g e on readersr Geneticsebehalfader of Society es Genetics Society Publishedinformed on behalfPublishedinformed ofabout e on Geneticsbehalf the about of Society e Genetics the Society infinformedfoormed about about the the latest geneticslatest genetics llatestatest genetics gennetics What does HeredityWhat does publish? Heredity publish? Whatresearch does HeredityWhatresearch with does publish? Heredityan with publish? an Heredity publishesHeredity original publishes research original articles, research reviews, articles, and news reviews, and commentariesand news and commentariesin ecological, in ecological, Heredity publishesresearchresHeredityea originalrc publishesh researchwith wit originalh articles, an an research reviews, articles, and news reviews, and commentariesand news and commentariesin ecological, in ecological, populationevolutionary andpopulation evolutionaryevolutionary andperspective genetics, evolutionary including: perspective genetics, including: populationevolutionarye andvopopulation evolutionarylution anda genetics,r evolutionaryy perspective per including:sp genetics,ectiv including:e t
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GENETICS SOCIETY BUSINESS 16

News From The Society of Biology

s we have previously details of these activities. The priorities for research and The Areported, the Biosciences Society of Biology will be Science and Learning Expert Federation and Institute of officially launched at an Group report on science Biology have now officially invitation only event in education. Details of the merged to create the Society London in March this year Societies response to these and of Biology and those with guest speakers Sir Paul other consultations are all interested can find out more Nurse and Sir David available from the website. at the new website Attenborough. The Society website also holds www.societyofbiology.org/. As details of local and national with the Biosciences The Society has recently events of interest to biologists. Federation, the Society is responded to a number of active in responding to consultations including the In contrast to the Biosciences matters relating to science Science and Technology Federation, and more like the policy and education. In Committee policy on the Institute of Biology, the addition, the Society has a treatment of scientific advice Society also allows individual network of regional branches provided to the Government, membership for those that act as a focus for local the HEFCE consultation on the interested in obtaining activities and is also Research Excellence professional accreditation or interested in promoting Framework, the House of personally contributing to professional development for Lords Science and Technology aspects of the Societies biologists; see the website for Committee report on funding business, again details are available from the website.

The Society of Biology will be officially launched at an invitation only event in London in March this year with guest speakers Sir Paul Nurse and Sir David Attenborough.

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17 GENETICS SOCIETY MEETING REPORTS

A Genetics Society Symposium in association with ISDB 2009 Darwin and Development 9th September 2009. Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Scotland.

Peter Holland . Oxford Philip Donoghue . Bristol

‘Origin’ was entitled ‘Variation under Domestication’, and accordingly this topic was addressed by two speakers in the morning session. John Doebley (University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA) discussed his research on the domestication of maize, focussing on genetic differences underlying morphological differences between maize and its wild relative Teosinte. Enthusiasm for he International topical reasons, the subject domestication as a model for natural selection TCongress of chosen for the Genetics has waned somewhat since Darwin, but Developmental Biology Society symposium was through comparative analysis with other takes place every four years ‘Darwin and Development’. The systems John was able to show that the and is the largest conference reason, of course, was to artificial and natural selection targeted the worldwide in the field of commemorate the 200th same sorts of loci underpinning trait variation. developmental biology. The anniversary of Darwin’s birth Continuing the theme, Elaine Ostrander previous three Congresses, and the 150th anniversary of (National Institutes of Health, USA) was in Utah, Kyoto and Sydney, the publication of ‘The Origin invited to speak on the genetic basis of each attracted over a of Species’. differences between breeds of domestic dog. thousand delegates, putting Although Elaine was unable to attend the considerable pressure on the Despite the historical meeting, she did not let this small complication UK to host a similarly significance of the year 2009, stop her from presenting an excellent talk, live attractive meeting in 2009. the aim of the symposium was by telephone from Washington DC. The In the end, expectations not to look back at Darwin’s audience was given a remarkable were surpassed and a record work. From the outset, the demonstration of how high-resolution genetic attendance of 1500 delegates intention was to hold a mapping in multiple pedigree lines, together attended the 16th Congress symposium that discussed the with a reference dog genome sequence, enabled held at the impressive latest research on topics that specific traits such as long hair or curly hair, or Edinburgh International would have interested Darwin the presence of facial ‘furnishings’ (a sort of Conference Centre. The were he alive today, canine moustache), to be traced to variants in Genetics Society generously particularly within the subject single, identified genes. There were even sponsored a full-day ‘double of evolutionary developmental implications for Barack Obama; his chosen session’ at the Congress, biology and genetics. The household pet (a Portuguese Water Dog) has all plus an associated Plenary structure of the symposium three characters. Lecture, and was rewarded roughly followed the order of by an exceptional turn-out topics in the Origin of Species, Darwin followed his discussions of of delegates, a series of or at least those topics domestication with a survey of ‘Variation cutting-edge talks, and wide relevant to genetics and under Nature’, and accordingly three talks in exposure for the Society. For development. Chapter 1 of the the morning session addressed this topic.

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GENETICS SOCIETY MEETING REPORTS 18

Flowers, finches and fish were (University of Cambridge) who the principle focus. Cris gave an overview of the ‘new Michael also emphasized Kuhlemeier (University of animal phylogeny’ assembled the importance of genome Bern, Switzerland) used QTL from molecular data by many mapping and behavioural groups over the past two projects for animals such as experiments to dissect the decades. Further research is genetic differences and still needed to resolve centipedes to facilitate selection pressures problematic components of underpinning the divergent the phylogeny, for example research into some difficult morphologies, and distinct among the spiralians and the ecologies, of three closely ecdysozoan phyla. Michael topics in evolutionary related Petunia species also emphasized the pollinated by different agents: importance of genome biology such as the origin bees, hawkmoths and projects for animals such as and evolution of hummingbirds. Arkhat centipedes to facilitate Abzhanov (Harvard research into some difficult segmentation. University, USA) described the topics in evolutionary biology search for the developmental such as the origin and basis of differences in cranial evolution of segmentation. morphology between The acoel flatworms are an evolutionary variation of dentition patterns, divergent species of Darwin’s important group in while Nicola showed differences in gene finches and also between their discussions of animal expression profiles that underpinned relatives on Caribbean islands. phylogeny, and Pedro Martinez differential growth of digits in bat wings. Yingguang Frank Chan (University of Barcelona, Darwin was particularly concerned with ‘the (formerly at Stanford Spain) gave a summary of the imperfection of the geological record’, but the University, USA; now at MPI, impressive progress being discovery of fossilised embryos speaks both to Plön, Germany) brought the made in the study of their his concerns on the absence of Precambrian audience up-to-date development. Whether these fossils and to the paucity of soft tissues in the concerning the intriguing animals really diverged from fossil record. Philip Donoghue (University of story of Pitx1 mutations and the crucial position at the base Bristol) used synchrotron X-ray tomography on spine reduction in stickleback of the Bilateria remains Ediacaran fossil embryos to reveal their precise evolution, showing exciting controversial, though looking cell number and organisation. The fossils show new data on the actual more likely with each new no embryological characteristics of bilaterians mutations present in natural data set, and the topic but it is remains unclear whether this is an populations. generated heated discussion. artefact of post mortem decay or reflects their Serial homology and the biology. The afternoon session variation of characters were focussed on other areas that topics discussed by Jukka Michael Ruse once wrote “Of all the scientists were of interest to Darwin, Jernvall (University of in the world today, there is no one with whom including phylogeny, Helsinki, Finland, and Stony Charles Darwin would rather spend an evening homology, the fossil record Brook University, USA) and than Sean Carroll.” It was fitting, therefore, and the dawn of animal life. Nicola Illing (University of that Sean Carroll (University of Wisconsin- In 1857, Darwin wrote to T.H. Cape Town, South Africa), Madison, USA) should end the day on ‘Darwin Huxley “the time will come, I using examples from their and Development’ by presenting the Genetics believe, though I shall not live to research on dentition in Society Plenary Lecture. A few words are see it, when we shall have very mammals, and limb insufficient to sum up his whirlwind tour of fairly true genealogical trees of development in bats, ‘Endless Flies most Beautiful’, except to say that each great kingdom of nature”. respectively. Jukka showed it swept effortlessly from natural variation to He would have enjoyed the that underlying developmental ecology, from experimental genetics and talk by Michael Akam rules have constrained development to evolutionary biology, and kept a packed auditorium riveted.

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GENETICS SOCIETY MEETING REPORTS 19

The Genetics Society / Royal Society Discussion Meeting Genetics And The Causes Of Evolution: 150 Years Of Progress Since Darwin

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

s part of the Darwin 200 depth: variation under Acelebrations, the Royal domestication, adaptation by Society and the Genetics natural selection, cross and Society held a joint meeting self-fertilisation, the descent of at the Royal Society’s man and, of course, the origin headquarters in London, on of species. November 12-13th. Organised by Mike Bonsall and Brian One of the unifying themes of Charlesworth, the aim of the the meeting was how the rapid meeting was to show how advancement of genotyping advances in the field of and sequencing technologies, genetics have been essential and a corresponding reduction in aiding our understanding in their price, has led to an of the mechanisms of explosion of work tracking evolutionary change that adaptation in non-model operate across all biological organisms. Indeed, the first systems. talk by Josephine Pemberton, about quantitative traits in As may be expected from the wild populations of Soay remit of this meeting, diversity sheep, set the standard and Former Society president and co-organiser of the meeting, Prof Brian was high, with both the tone for much of the rest of Charlesworth, presents the Mendel Medal to Prof. Wen-Hsiung Li. audience and the speakers the meeting. Hopi Hoekstra coming from a wide range of presented elegant work disciplines. The format of the identifying specific genetic meeting was such that ample changes that have led to genetic level. In contrast Holly time was left for discussion lighter coat colour in the Wichman, illustrated the between sessions. This allowed beach mice, a subspecies of abundance of convergent a detailed examination of the deer mouse Peromyscus evolution at the genetic level presenters’ findings and also polionotus. Different mutations in lines of 174 phage that an opportunity for more in geographically isolated were evolvingφ independently general questions to be raised populations of beach mice in the laboratory. Both Dolf by audience members. The have led to similar phenotypic Schluter and John Willis main topics of this meeting outcomes, illustrating the showed further examples of were similar to those that convergence at the phenotypic how adaptive phenotypes in Darwin himself had studied in- level need not occur at the local populations could be

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mapped and subsequently Jonathan Pritchard, that aims was empirically illustrated by tracked genes differing in the to detect genetic adaptations many of other speakers. wild. due to novel environmental challenges during recent This year’s Genetics Society In a short section of the human colonisation events. Mendel lecture was given by meeting, one that Darwin Paul Sharp presented an Wen-Hsiung Li, after which he himself was extremely illuminating overview of the was awarded the Mendel medal interested in, Spencer Barrett evolution of the chimpanzee by the former president Brian spoke about sexual systems in and human immunodeficiency Charlesworth. The Mendel plants and the transition viruses (SIV and HIV medal and lecture invitation between different sexual respectively) and provided are the highest honour the systems. Leading on from this evidence that SIV increases Genetics society bestows. In was a fascinatingly graphic mortality in chimpanzee, by recent years, Professor Li has talk by Tracey Chapman on CD4+ T cell depletion, albeit made the remarkable sexual conflict in Drosophila. by a different mechanism from transition from theoretical and The topic that stimulated the HIV. Following on from this molecular population genetics greatest public interest was Ben Kerr and Steven Frank to functional and evolutionary that of speciation. Jerry Coyne presented very different genomics, embracing yeast as laid out the arguments for a studies on how pathogen a model organism and using stricter definition of sympatric virulence evolves and is, or next generation sequencing to speciation (one that includes a can be tailored, to evade host study the evolution of gene requirement for a genetic basis defences and the potential expression regulation in this for reproductive isolation) and consequences of adopting and other systems. In his provided evidence that few different lifestyles. lecture, Professor Li touched good examples of sympatric on many aspects of his more speciation have really been Rounding off this successful recent work, including the seen in nature. meeting was a more finding that more gene theoretical session, with the expression variation within In one-way or another, much of first talk from Laurent Duret species is due to trans acting the rest of the conference dealing with the contentious factors than between species, related to humans and the issue of biased gene where most observed changes impact of humans on other conversion and its effects upon in gene regulation occur in cis. organisms or vice versa. Talks genome scans for positive In the last part of his talk, on tracking domestication selection. As a fitting end to Professor Li charted the events in cattle and the meeting, Nick Barton gave evolutionary history of a cataloguing biodiversity in a stimulating talk on the microRNA and the stepwise plants from Dan Bradley and problem of the maintenance of expansion of the surrounding Anthony Brown respectively, recombination. As neither the regulatory network in more illustrated how humans, removal of deleterious recently evolved orders of life. throughout their history, have mutations, nor the rate of Professor Li’s lecture was the had a profound impact on advantageous mutations conclusion of this highly patterns of diversity observed appear to be high enough to stimulating and enjoyable in domesticated species today. satisfy theoretical meeting and was itself a Naoyuki Takahata presented requirements for the demonstration of how much estimates of ancestral effective maintenance of sex and progress in the field of population sizes in human- recombination, a more genetics has led to a deeper chimp ancestors while Anna complicated scenario of local understanding of the DiRienzo presented work, adaptations in structured processes of evolution. carried out in collaboration populations needs to be given with Graham Coop and consideration; a process that

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GENETIC SOCIETY SPONSORED EVENTS 21 GENETICS SOCIETY SPONSORED EVENTS

Genetics 100 Years On John Innes Centre Centenary Symposium. 9th – 11th September 2009.

he history of John Innes founding of the journal Genes Tand the Genetics Society is and Development. The John as closely entwined as the two Innes visitors' books record strands of the DNA helix. So it individual visitors to the was an honour that we were Institution and shows that the able to sponsor The Bateson Society met there often in the Lecture given by Professor Sir early years. The John Innes Paul Nurse, at the John Innes Centre also looks after the Centenary Symposium to archives of the Genetics Society celebrate Genetics 100 Years On beginning from their first in September. meeting in 1919.

William Bateson, the first The Centenary Symposium Director of John Innes co- attracted a distinguished list of founded the Genetics Society in speakers including Nobel prize 1919 and in the early years John winners Sydney Brenner, Paul Innes staff formed a high Nurse and Eric Wieschaus and proportion of the membership. provided an in depth Six past Presidents of the examination of genetics in Society were from JI (Haldane, historical terms, as well as Darlington, Mather, Lewis, raising contemporary and Riley and Hopwood) and future issues from personalised numerous JI staff have also medicine, stem cells and Sir Paul Nurse receives a painting, “Variety and Variation” to served as Secretaries, Senior biometrics to ethics, identity commemorate his Bateson Lecture at the John Innes Centre Centenary Symposium. Secretaries and Vice Presidents and GM. Genetics Society over the years. Bateson founded support of the Bateson Lecture the Journal of Genetics in 1920, enabled the Organising and in 1947 Darlington and Committee to fully fund Fisher founded the journal attendance by over 20 young Heredity. In the mid 1980s David researchers and students. The Hopwood, then President, and complete video recorded Dick Flavell, Senior Secretary, presentations are freely both of John Innes, available on demand via the spearheaded the Genetics Centenary website Society discussions and http://www.jic.ac.uk/centenary/ negotiations that led to the index.htm

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GENETIC SOCIETY SPONSORED EVENTS 22

From Imprinting to the Epigenome in 25 Years 4th – 6th September 2009. University of Cambridge.

Anne Ferguson-Smith . University of Cambridge

2009 marked the 25th chromosomes. This has anniversary of the publication elucidated epigenetic of two seminal papers in the modifications such as DNA journals Nature and Cell in methylation, post- the field of genomic translational modifications of imprinting1,2. Studies, led by core histones, and the Davor Solter (Institute of involvement of non-coding Medical Biology, Singapore) RNA transcripts as key and Azim Surani (University players in the epigenetic of Cambridge) reported the control of gene activity and failure of androgenetic (two repression at imprinted loci. paternally inherited genomes) However, not only is genomic and parthenogenetic (two imprinting a fascinating maternally inherited genomes) research area in its own right mouse embryos to develop to touching areas of evolutionary Davor Solter and Azim Surani, authors of the seminal papers that term. These findings proved biology, normal and abnormal kicked off the field of genomic imprinting the functional non- mammalian development and equivalence of maternal and physiology and functional plants (which also undergo genomic paternally inherited genomes genomics, but it also has imprinting) and Drosophila where the in the development of the become a very good epigenetic influence of repressive chromatin on mammalian conceptus. experimental paradigm for adjacent sequences has long been recognized Subsequent work identified investigating the epigenetic and provided the some of the earliest genetic genomic regions that were control of genome function tools to identify many of the key players subject to parental origin and the role of non-coding regulating epigenetic processes. effects3, work predominantly RNA transcripts in the piloted by Bruce Cattanach process. The field of From 4-6th September 2009, approximately 200 (MRC Mammalian Genetics epigenetics is now recognized international participants working in Unit, Harwell) and his as an important one epigenetics came to the University of colleagues. In 1991 the first influencing most areas of Cambridge to celebrate the remarkable progress imprinted genes were contemporary genetics. that has been made since the elucidation of identified 4-7; genes expressed genomic imprinting in mouse in 1984. The according to their parental Today, the advent of new meeting took place at Peterhouse and King’s origin whose dosage was technologies for exploring College and was organised by CellCentric8 with perturbed in the bi-parental genomes and epigenomes has additional sponsorship from The Genetics conceptuses made by Solter resulted in the integration of Society and The Company of Biologists9. and Surani. these earlier findings into a Sessions focused on Epigenetic Control of wider genomic context that Developmental Processes, Interactions between The past 15 years has seen has changed the face of the Genome and Epigenome, the Epigenome in further analysis identify the chromosome biology. This Health and Disease, Parental Origin Specific mechanisms by which the progress has not been possible Epigenetic Control and covered areas ranging transcriptional machinery of without genetic and epigenetic from the roles of macro and small non-coding the cell can tell the difference studies in model systems and RNA in epigenetic regulation to the influence of between the two parental model organisms notably in histone modifications on genome architecture

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GENETIC SOCIETY SPONSORED EVENTS 23

and function. Germ line epigenetics and stem cell programming featured prominently in several presentations, as did topics around DNA methylation in a range of normal and disease processes. Whole genome analysis of epigenetic states in a range of model systems and model organisms is providing useful reference epigenomes and novel mechanisms of epigenetic control. Highlights of the meeting included the Genetics Society Speaker, Steve Henikoff (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle), presenting work entitled ‘Chromatin dynamics and imprinting in Delegates at the meeting Arabidopsis’. Azim Surani and Davor Solter’s talks on ‘Resetting the epigenetic state in the mouse germline’ and ‘Epigenetic control of oocyte 1. Surani MA, Barton SC, Norris ML. (1984) Development of reconstituted mouse to embryo transition in eggs suggests imprinting of the genome during gametogenesis. Nature 308: 548- mammals’ addressed 550. fundamental developmental 2. McGrath J, Solter D. (1984) Completion of mouse embryogenesis requires both epigenetic questions which the maternal and paternal genomes. Cell 37: 179-183. new advances have now 3. Cattanach BM and Kirk M. (1985) Differential activity of maternally and rendered tractable. In a year paternally derived chromosome regions in mice. Nature 315: 496-498. in which Cambridge University 4. Barlow DP. Stoger R, Hermann B, Saito K, Schweifer N. (1991) The mouse insulin- achieved its 800th anniversary like growth factor type 2 receptor is imprinted and closely linked to the Tme and amidst the local locus. Nature 349: 84-87. excitement and events 5. De Chiara TM, Roberston E, Efstratiadis A. (1991) Parental imprinting of the surrounding Darwin’s mouse insulin-like growth factor II gene. Cell 64: 849-859. bicentenary, the Genetics 6. Bartolomei MS, Zemel S, Tilghman S. (1991) Parental imprinting of the mouse Society contributed to a H19 gene. Nature 351: 153-155. successful and stimulating 7. Ferguson-Smith AC, Cattanach BM, Barton S, Beechey C, Surani MA. (1991) meeting in which a part of Embryological and molecular investigations of parental imprinting on mouse epigenetic history was chromosome 7. Nature 351: 667-670. honoured and the future of 8. http://www.cellcentric.com/ epigenetics was celebrated. 9. http://www.biologists.com/web/

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FEATURES 24

Nowgen Schools Genomics Programme

Leah Holmes PhD . Nowgen Public Programmes Project Officer

uman genomics, the study Nowgen's Schools Hof genetics and the human Genomics Programme narrows the gap genome, is poised to become between genomics part of UK science lessons research and thanks to a new programme classroom genetics. launched by Nowgen, the Manchester-based centre for genetics in healthcare. The ‘Nowgen Schools Genomics Programme’ will bring cutting- edge scientific research into schools, exciting pupils about the pace of discovery and engaging them in thinking about how advances in genetics will affect their future lives. a team of Nowgen clinicians, young people to interpret Traditionally, it can take 10 scientists and educationalists. what these news stories are years or more for new scientific As well as influencing how saying, by providing greater discoveries to become genetics is taught in schools, insight into the complexity of integrated into science the project will look at new the science, and into the teaching. Nowgen’s Schools ways of integrating implications on our society of Genomics Programme aims to contemporary content into applying this knowledge in a address this - narrowing the traditional science and within healthcare context.” gap between genomics research science related courses such as and classroom genetics. The A-level Science in Society and The project team expects to project, funded by The The History and Philosophy of see some of the outcomes of Wellcome Trust, will include Science. Peter Finegold, leader its work included into GCE A- seminars for examiners on the of the Schools Genomics level specifications in latest developments in Programme said: “Every day England within the next five genomics and healthcare, offer we read stories in the years and hopes it will be students opportunities to visit newspapers about how included in the major review research establishments and scientists have found genetic of the GCSE science result in the production of predictors for common curriculum, due to be carried three new Teachers TV diseases, such as cancer, out in 2011. Early discussions programmes for students and diabetes and rheumatoid are also underway with key teachers. The innovative three- arthritis. Nowgen’s Schools curriculum developers in year programme will be run by Genomics Programme will help Scotland.

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FEATURES 25

Obituary Professor Hubert (Hugh) Rees DFC, FRS 1923 – 2009

Professor Neil Jones . Aberystwyth University

rofessor Hubert Rees DFC, that his family received PFRS, a leading British notification of his survival and scientist and decorated wartime internment, together with a pilot, died on Sunday 13 laconic personal message from September 2009 at Aberystwyth. Hugh that he was “playing quite a lot of bridge”, a pastime Hubert Rees, always known to shared with his wife Mavis that his friends and associates as continued until late in life. In Hugh, was born on October 2 transit to his POW camp Hugh 1923, the son of Owen and was caught in a night time RAF Tugela Rees, and was educated raid which he was again lucky at Llandovery and Llanelli to survive. In notes made at the Grammar Schools. He left time he described the school to volunteer for the RAF, experience as “unpleasant,” a and after training in UK and clear understatement judging Canada he joined 75 Squadron from the rare occasions when (RNZAF) in 1944 to pilot he later spoke of these events. Lancaster bombers. At the end of his first tour of 30 operations Some of these wartime months at the John Innes Horticultural Institute he was awarded the DFC and experiences undoubtedly had a under the tutelage of C D Darlington before then volunteered for a second lasting influence on his taking up an appointment as Lecturer in tour but, soon after outlook, but it was in character Cytology at the newly-formed Department of commencing, his aircraft was that after return to the UK at Genetics at Birmingham University under critically damaged over the age of 22 he pursued his Professor Kenneth Mather. Here he successfully Homberg, Germany. He was peacetime ambitions with drive applied the techniques of quantitative genetic able to retain sufficient control and energy. On demobilisation analysis to the genetic control of chromosome to allow the crew to bail out in 1946 he married his behaviour in plants, from which he later built his and, unusually, all survived. childhood friend, Mavis Hill, scientific reputation. Following capture, Hugh and and enrolled as a student at fellow officers were sent to Aberystwyth University, In 1958 he returned to Aberystwyth as Senior Stalag Luft 1 on the Baltic graduating with a First in Lecturer in Agricultural Botany, being promoted coast, where they remained Agricultural Botany in 1950. Reader in 1966 and ultimately Professor and Head until liberated by the Russian He was encouraged by his tutor of Department. He rapidly built up an advance in May 1945. Posted as Professor P T Thomas to internationally acclaimed school of study on missing in November 1944, it specialise in plant cyto- chromosome genetics, and on evolutionary was not until 2 months later genetics, and spent a few changes in chromosome organisation with

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FEATURES 26

particular reference to plant- his eclectic interests and bodies, including those of the Welsh Plant breeding. He was elected a voracious reading habit, Breeding Station (subsequently The Institute of Fellow of the Royal Society in extending beyond scientific Grassland and Environmental Research and now 1976. An excellent teacher with matters in a wide range of part of the Institute of Biological, Environmental a powerful intellect, he also had English and Welsh literature. and Rural Sciences) and the Plant Breeding the talent to inspire his Institute, Cambridge (subsequently part of the students and to evoke in Throughout his career Hugh John Innes Centre). Through the British Council students and staff a lasting was intent to focus on the way and the University of Malawi he was also active feeling of respect, regard and that the results of his research in promoting academic and technical loyalty. Many would go on to could be brought to bear on interactions with the Bunda College of high achievement in research improving the consistent yield Agriculture with lasting mutual benefits. and university teaching, and all of food crops from diminishing Throughout his career he spent several study would remain his friends. resources to feed an ever tours abroad in a number of different countries expanding world population. either as a Research Fellow or as Visiting Hugh was also a well known During his tenure at Professor; most notably in 1977 when he taught at figure in the UK Genetical Aberystwyth he was at pains to the Australian National University at Canberra. Society (as it was known at the strengthen the traditional links time), when genetics was still a in research between the Hugh combined his heavy work load with a rich unified science. He would Department of Agricultural and varied social life. He liked nothing more regularly present his latest Botany and the Welsh Plant than to entertain friends, associates and visitors ideas and findings, and could be Breeding Station and to foster to the Department from the UK and abroad, to relied upon to ask the critical collaborative research between evenings at his home with the unstinting support questions of others and to them and the Department of of his wife Mavis, and their family. Generous spark lively debate. Genetics at Birmingham hosts, their parties rarely ended before the early University under Professor hours. Hugh was an excellent raconteur, with an An illustration of his John Jinks; an arrangement enviable eye for detail, and a talent for spotting involvement in Departmental that enhanced the international the bizarre and quirky in any situation. Many of activities, and of his singular reputation of all three centres. his memorable and humorous tales recalled pre- leadership style, was the and post-war life in the villages of South Wales, initiation of each new intake of Hugh had a rare capacity for student life in the overcrowded “digs” of post-war his students to the joys of the quickly perceiving the crux of a Aberystwyth, and incidents on river-banks and countryside especially through problem in his own or related lakes of mid-Wales where he avidly pursued his the climbing of Cader Idris. He fields of research or, indeed, hobby of fly fishing. used to tell them that if they generally. He was a forceful remembered only one thing presence in scientific meetings In retirement, Hugh also remained a keen from their time at or committee and could be painter, bridge player and gardener. Later he Aberystwyth, this should be it. relied upon to ask a critical took to gentle cycling with a small group of He continued the activity even question on the crucial issue friends through various regions of France as a when, as he joked, the effort of early in the proceedings, means of exploring the different wines and reaching the summit left him initiating strong debate. cuisine. Inevitably, since cycling in France is a too breathless to address his Consequently, in parallel with cult, his distinctive patriarchal appearance and new charges. The his scientific research he was his decidedly unconventional garb often attracted Departmental Christmas much in demand for advisory or the attention of photographers from the local parties were famously festive administrative duties. In the press; while his charismatic presence at the lively occasions; Hugh’s customary College he served on several evening festivities would lead to a gradually and colourful rendering of committees and on various expanding entourage of other cyclists who would Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky” administrative posts including adapt their itineraries so as to join in. will long be remembered by that of Vice Principal. Further successive classes of students. afield he served on a number of Hugh is survived by his wife, a son and two Such activities also reflected advisory groups and governing daughters. Another son predeceased him.

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Young Geneticist Wins Science, Engineering and Technology for Britain Award.

he SET awards are of the other entries I saw! But Xiaoqi Feng Tprovided by the what was even more rewarding shows her 2009 SET for Britain Parliamentary and Scientific was getting the opportunity to medal outside Committee and aim to meet young researchers in the Houses of encourage, support and different fields from all over Parliament. promote Britain's early-stage the UK and to find out about and early-career research their cutting-edge research.’ scientists, engineers and She notes that her work would technologists who are the not have been possible without "engine-room" of continued the support she has received progress in and development from colleagues and friends. ‘I of UK research and R&D. am also very grateful for the Many will be Britain's future funding for my study and scientific and technological research provided by the leaders and are a vital asset Clarendon Scholarship and the and investment for the UK. ORS Award – without it, none of this would have been This year’s winner in the possible.’ She added: ‘It is Biological and Biomedical essential that young scientists Sciences category was Xiaoqi are able and willing to Feng, in the third year of a communicate with the general DPhil in Plant Sciences at public and politicians, to make Magdalen College, Oxford. Her sure that science stays in winning poster presentation, touch with real life and to ‘Male meiotic cells and their promote science-friendly policy tapetal nurse calls are derived that can benefit society.’ from distinct cell lineages in higher plants’, looked at a It has been a busy 12 months discovery about plant for Xiaoqi Feng since she also reproduction which could help won the Society for with developing new strategies Experimental Biology Young for seed production. Xiaoqi Scientist Award 2009 and was Feng found the event useful. ‘I part of the University of am very happy I won – it came Oxford team that won the UK as a real surprise, especially Environment Young considering the high standard Entrepreneurs Scheme.

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A Taxi Driver Writes...

Josephine Pemberton . Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh

Dear Steve-the-taxi-driver,

Thank you for your article in sheep project in the last few fitness correlations in neonatal the last GS news about the years. I believe it illustrates traits in Soay sheep lambs, need to make the data behind two kinds of difficulties: the finding none: I am always published papers accessible to need to clarify the exact data proud to publish a null result! other workers, and especially authors are to upload and the The data underlying the paper for highlighting the potential need to safeguard the interests consisted of, for each lamb and issues surrounding long term of those who conduct long its mother, a range of projects, such as my study of term projects where data measures of heterozygosity Soay sheep in the pouring rain accrual leads to the potential plus inbreeding coefficients, and howling gales of St Kilda. for ever more sophisticated birth date, birth weight, twin analyses. I am not against the status and whether or not the I should like to enlarge on the overall mission here, but I am lamb survived the neonatal potential problems of long seeking some deeper thinking. period. The various term data sets by reference to a heterozygosity estimators were specific evolutionary genetics Overall et al (2004)[1] calculated from genotype data article published by the Soay investigated heterozygosity- across up to 24 microsatellite

Spot the sheep – A typical balmy day on St Kilda!

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loci in such a way that the how will research groups like individuals, plus associated entire data set of genotypes the Soay sheep researchers be population, vegetation and (for all animals ever protected from competitors weather data is held in a genotyped, not just the focal immediately conducting relational database on a server. lambs and their mothers) was analyses that the original If anyone wants to analyse the required. Estimating the authors themselves plan to do? data in pursuit of a specific inbreeding coefficients I am currently involved in a question, they are asked to required a pedigree which manuscript which uses almost email in a synopsis of their required paternity analysis precisely the same dataset as plans. This is sent round the which also required the entire was used for Overall et al current project group to back-catalogue of genotypes as (2004), albeit updated, to ask a identify comments or conflicts well as information on which different question. If others in plans. If there are none, the individually-identified males had thought of this newer applicant gets the data, often were known to be alive in the analysis five years ago, would by getting a login to the server relevant mating season. The they have been within their so they can download final statistical analysis rights to carry it out and successive data updates; required data on population publish it? I know that current effectively they become part of density and the winter North plans would allow authors to the current project group. Atlantic Oscillation (a measure place a time lag on the Over the last few years, I can’t summarising the severity of accessibility of their data, but I actually remember a case winter weather) for each year am not sure this is sufficient where a non-clashing in which the focal lambs were protection from my reasonable request was turned born. perspective. down. In a similar manner, I would like to see whatever the Which level of data would we I suggest that we are journals invent allowing be required to upload with conflating two issues here: (1) researchers to hide their data, respect to a future article of the conservation of data in a but reveal it to what seem like the same kind? Would it just way that keeps it for posterity. bona fide requests. be the final data set on which The funding agencies that I we did the stats, consisting of deal with have been the derived measures of remarkably lax at requiring References heterozygosity and inbreeding response mode grant-holders to 1. Overall, A.D.J., Byrne, K.A., coefficient for each focal do this and I applaud any Pilkington, J.G., and individual, or would it be the action, including by journals, Pemberton, J.M. (2005). entire underlying relational which makes this a Heterozygosity, inbreeding database which would allow requirement. (2) The and neonatal traits in Soay other researchers to use their availability of data for re- sheep on St Kilda. Molecular own methods to reconstruct analysis. I believe data should Ecology 14, 3383-3393. the pedigree and derive generally be available for re- alternative estimators of analysis, but I also think the 2. Aparicio, J.M., Ortego, J., heterozygosity (a new one of authors who obtained the data and Cordero, P.J. (2006). these, ‘heterozygosity by loci’[2] have a right to say whether What should we weigh to has been suggested in the they accept data release for re- estimate heterozygosity, interim, so this might be analysis, on a case-by-case alleles or loci? Molecular useful)? basis. Ecology 15, 4659-4665.

If large, multidisciplinary data I am not saying this is the best sets such as the Soay sheep model, but what we actually do data set are made publicly with the Soay sheep data at available as a result of present is as follows: current publishing journal articles, information on all 7,404

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The 17th International C. elegans Meeting

June 24th-28th 2009. University of California, Los Angeles

Elizabeth Marsh . University of Birmingham

to infection with other pathogens, indicating that there is a specific interaction between the host and this natural parasite.

The climax of the meeting was a superb rriving hot, bothered and the transmission skew lecture from Nobel Laureate Marty Chalfie, Aseverely jet-lagged, we suggesting that this who gave fascinating insights into his lab as collected our textbook-sized transmission bias may happen he detailed the history of his 1994 Science abstract book from the during spermatogenesis. From paper on GFP. It was truly inspirational to see registration desk; a quick flick- an evolutionary perspective, the scraps of paper Marty had used to jot down through demonstrated that it the transmission of smaller his original ideas for GFP and C. elegans after was to be a superb conference chromosomes to hearing a seminar on bioluminescent proteins with some high profile hermaphrodite progeny may in 1988, as well as extracts from the lab books speakers. Beside them was my henceforth mean that deletions of his team as they conducted the first name, as I was to be giving my are likely to propagate in experiments. Other highlights were the Worm first presentation at a meeting C. elegans. Art Show: there were some incredible entries (I three days later. Fortunately, wish I was creative!), and, of course, the Worm jumping straight into the first Another talk from Emily Comedy Show by P.I.s Morris Maduro and of five plenary sessions helped Troemel, newly independent at Curtis Loer…yes, it’s all geeky in-jokes, but dispel the nerves that were the University of California they were hilarious all the same! The show beginning to take hold and the San Diego, described the included renditions of Baby got back (Wormy meeting was kicked off with a parasite Microsporidia got back) and Nessun Dorma (Nessun Worma), I lecture from the keynote (Nematocida parisii) as a guess you had to be there… speaker, Barbara Meyer. natural pathogen of C. elegans. These microbes were found to As I have alluded to by my description of the One of my favourite talks of cause an intracellular infection abstract book, there were around 250 talks, the conference was the next of the intestinal epithelium just under 1,000 posters and about 1,600 morning; “Life is not fair: and were capable of being delegates at the meeting! As a result the larger chromosomes are transferred from worm to meeting was remarkably intense but, transmitted to males in C. worm. A series of EM pictures conversely, the opportunity to attend an elegans” from John Wang at the showed ‘grooves’ in the international conference and hear talks from University of Lausanne, intestine caused by the renowned C. elegans scientists about the Switzerland. Their finding that displacement of gut cells, rigorous nature of research at this level was allele transmission can be which was thought to be the one that has enthused and inspired me and my biased, even with differences of Meront stage, followed by the work. My own talk went well, somehow my only a few kb (just single gene appearance of rod-shaped nerves disappeared when I was speaking and I deletions), has begun to upset microbes; the spore stage. The actually enjoyed it! It has been good to receive the dogma that genetic innate immune response of C. feedback on my own work directly and the information is segregated elegans to N. parisii does not discussions we had have opened many doors equally during reproduction; I require the p38 MAPK or for collaborations. I would like to take this believe this is why I found it so Insulin-like signalling opportunity to thank the Genetics Society for interesting. Sperm, but not pathways typical of the helping fund my attendance at this oocytes, were found to display response raised by the animal conference.

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The European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB) Congress

24th -30th August 2009. Turin, Italy.

Rebecca Ross . University of Oxford

As a plant evolutionary ecologist, I can only give you a limited idea of what was going on for the rest of the sessions, which spanned parasites to humans, genomics to ecosystems, and everything in between.

The tone of the Congress was without ‘em. Massimo Pigliucci Pictured left: set by the opening reception gave us some food for thought Gianduja the symbol of Turin is a cheerful held in the magnificent 18th in the form of future trends in gentleman, full of century Rectorate Palace. thinking about evolution. common sense and Champagne flowed, beef was Further plenary talks ranged pluck, who appreciates good carved and networking from genome evolution to eating and drinking. proceeded apace. Keen to see human evolution, and finally urin: home to Fiat, what the programme would be planet scale co-evolution from Tgianduja, shrouds…and for the next five days, we John Thomson. The talks were evolutionary biologists? Or so started looking through the streamed from the main it appeared at Torino airport tome of abstracts. With five theatre to several smaller ones on the first day of the 12th parallel symposia on each day, to enable everyone to listen in. ESEB Congress. The place was just working out what to see thronged with conference- required military precision and As a plant evolutionary goers, easily distinguished by there was a fair amount of ecologist, I can only give you a the nervous gripping of the friendly competition between limited idea of what was going poster tubes and hesitating the ‘flitters’ and the ‘stickers’. on for the rest of the sessions, attempts to parlare italiano. which spanned parasites to Having just arrived from three Each day began with a plenary humans, genomics to months in Sicily, I was looking talk from a leader in their field. ecosystems, and everything in forward to wowing the crowds We started with Hanna Kokko between. So, a few highlights with my newly acquired and the strange tale of the from my perspective to Italian. Unfortunately for me, Amazonian fish that reproduce follow….Andreas Wagner on the conference organising team asexually; yet rely on sperm the links between evolutionary and I had to content myself from another species of fish to innovation and robustness: with translating gelato flavours trigger embryogenesis. Men: how the number of neighbours for my labmates! can’t live with ‘em, can’t live a sequence has which produce

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the same overall phenotype the green frog hybrid zone in Willoughby to rescue me. could determine its Kyrgystan. My hero, Loren However, it was a great chance evolutionary dynamics. Carol Rieseberg (UBC) talked about to get some new ideas for my Lee (Wisconsin) gave us a some new work on the analysis and pick some tips whistle-stop tour of her great importance of hybridisation in from other people’s posters. body of work on parallel historical speciation events, evolution in copepods invading and particularly the role for So, heads reeling with Science, freshwater lakes. Mohammed polyploidy... and many many keen to put some new ideas Noor (Duke) addressed a others! into practice, and even keener packed lecture theatre about to have a cold beer first, it came insights into hybridisation Amidst the packed programme to Saturday afternoon and the through fine-scale genome of seminars, there was a little end of the conference. The comparison in Drosophila. time for R and R. The organisers put on a splendid Francisco Ubeda (Tennessee) organisers put on a range of conference banquet in the presented a new explanation events one afternoon, from Turin Armoury, a magnificent for the role of genomic visits to the cinema museum brick building in downtown imprinting in Prader-Willis and and the Egyptian collection for Turin. The conference dinner Angelman syndromes, which the culture-vultures, to trips up showcased the best of was enough to make everyone Mont Blanc for the more Piedmontese cuisine, starting angry with their fathers! adventurous. somewhat surprisingly with a Kevin Foster (Harvard) on cheese course. We continued to social behaviour in biofilm- There were also two poster a more traditional steak, and forming bacteria, with some sessions, with over 200 posters an array of delicious dolce. really cool models. Matt in each one, which made it a The evening was rounded off Robinson (Sheffield) using a fairly epic journey to get round with music, and lounging on long-term data set in Finns to them all. The whole experience the grass under a starry Italian investigate environmental was somewhat reminiscent of sky. Writing this in rainy effects on birth intervals. the assembly rooms in Jane London in October, wish I were Matthias Stoeck (Berkeley) on Austen’s Bath – the company there! the weird and wonderful circled, the rooms got hotter, mating patterns and ploidy in and sadly there was no

18th Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics Conference

24th September-6th October 2009. Barossa Valley, Australia

Jennifer Gill . The Roslin Institute, Edinburgh

he 30th anniversary famous Barossa Valley, 60 km Novotel resort, directly behind Tconference of the Northeast of Adelaide. The Jacob’s Creek, which lends its Association for the conference, which is held every name to the famous brand of Advancement of Animal two years at locations wine based in the region. Breeding and Genetics throughout Australia and New (AAABG) was held in the Zealand, was located at the The conference kicked off with

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a comparative genomics workshop, attended by more than 200 delegates. The workshop included interesting sessions on, among other things, regulation of gene expression, genome evolution and genome structure as well as an impressive tribute dinner to Frank Nicholas, Emeritus beef cattle genetics, disease opportunity to mix with some The Barossa Valley Professor at the University of resistance and statistical of the key players in the field of one of the world’s great wine growing Sydney, which was the first of methods. This latter session animal genetics. Furthermore, regions. many social activities arranged consisted of two very well Wednesday afternoon was set © Jennifer Gill throughout the week. One of attended talks on the mixed aside for conference tours to the most fascinating talks of models used in animal breeding enable us to explore some of the workshop came from by Arthur Gilmour and Robin the Barossa. Tour options Jennifer Marshall Graves who Thompson who developed included golf, pig breeder tours, amused everyone in the ASReml, a computer program a visit to a sheep farm and a audience by stating that she used routinely in animal wine tasting trip. Needless to believes mice are an alien life genetics research. The most say, the majority of people form sent from space to confuse interesting sessions as far as I picked the wine tour resulting us! She concluded her talk by was concerned were the two on in five busloads of people stating that the Y chromosome Beef Cattle genetics, the transported around various could disappear within 5.8 subject of my PhD thesis. wineries. million years - which amused Alison Van Eenennaam only half of the audience. (University of California) gave I was also lucky enough to be a thought-provoking talk on the able to attend the Australasian After a day and a half of the necessity for validation of DNA Conference on Statistical genomic workshop it was time tests for quantitative beef cattle Methods for Genomic Data for the 18th conference to begin. traits whilst Matt Walcott Analysis which was held in the The conference was opened by (AGBU), who discussed the use beautiful botanic gardens of famed Australian cook and TV of genetic tests for meat Brisbane. This two-day presenter Maggie Beer who tenderness in Brahman cattle, conference included interesting urged us all to explore as much gave an interesting insight in to talks by Peter Visscher, Mike of the Barossa valley as the incorporation of genetic Goddard and Bill Hill and was possible. However, the packed marker test results into an excellent opportunity to conference timetable, which BREEDPLAN, the Australian catch up with the new contacts consisted of 3 plenary, 18 genetic evaluation system for made the week before at the concurrent and 2 poster beef cattle. AAABG conference. In sessions over 4 days, left limited conclusion, the AAABG time for exploration. One of There was a packed and varied conference was a fantastic the first talks of the conference social programme consisting of experience and I was thrilled to came from Frank Nicholas, both informal buffet dinners be able to present my work to a author of “Charles Darwin in and a Bavarian barbeque and a group of highly respected Australia”, who gave a more formal conference dinner scientists. I would like to take fascinating insight into at the Roseworthy campus of this opportunity to thank the Darwin’s visit to Australia in the University of Adelaide. Genetics Society for awarding 1836. The concurrent sessions Along with the poster sessions, me a Junior Scientist Travel of the conference included talks where 51 posters were perused Grant which enabled me to on the delivery of genomics to over wine and cheese, these travel to Australia for the industry, genomic selection, social events were an ideal conference.

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American Society of Human Genetics

October 20-24, 2009. O’ahu, Hawaii

Lorna M. Houlihan . Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh

discussion and correspondence beyond the meeting itself.

One highlight was a Trainee-mentor lunch with Professor Robert Elston of linkage analysis fame, whose algorithms I used frequently in my PhD studies. Prof. Elston was very encouraging to all the budding scientists at his table, telling us to do what we want! He also discussed the importance of choosing journals for publishing papers, obtaining tenure track positions in the US and the difficulties of working mothers. Furthermore, he told us that understanding the genetics of human traits and disease is The koko crater on O’ahu, the largest of the Hawaiian Islands. beyond biallelic SNPs and we should look © Mila Zinkova, GNU free documentation License 1.2 towards developing analysis methods to investigate other types of genetic variation, have always wished to Ageing and Cognitive and we should look towards functional work Iattend the annual American Epidemiology, University of such as proteomics. Finally he warned us to Society of Human Genetics Edinburgh. From discussions use computational resources and programmes meeting, and 2009 was no at the conference, it is clear with caution. This was echoed by Professor different as it was held on the that the field is moving beyond Edward R. B. McCabe during the Presidental Hawaiian island of O’ahu. genome-wide association address “Beyond Darwin? Evolution, This tropical setting was the studies to genome-wide Coevolution and The American Society of perfect place to meet many sequencing such as the 1000 Human Genetics”, who advised caution when internationally world- genomes project and using genetic analysis software as we must try renowned researchers, at a incorporating techniques such to understand and be careful about how we rather large gathering of as Microfludic protein chip and feed experimental data into a black box, how nearly 5,000 scientists. The single cell analysis. the software authors, commercial or otherwise, meeting was an opportunity to Furthermore, there are more deal with the data and then how we interpret engage with researchers in sophisticated methods to the results. similar research fields, develop investigating genome-wide collaborations and instigate association data to perform From this meeting, I have reported back to our new projects. As the meeting pathway analysis and test for group on current work in our field, exciting was large, the range of topics genetic interactions. I developments and new analytical methods, was varied so I learnt about presented my work as a poster from which we have developed future research new aspects of human on “Variation in the uric acid strategies. Indeed, collaboration with a group genetics, cutting edge transporter gene (SLC2A9) is in Australia has arisen from the meeting. technologies and novel associated with memory Finally, I am very grateful for the Genetics analytical techniques that I performance” where I was Society Travel Award and the opportunity to hope to apply to our research asked many questions which attend my first American Society of Human at the Centre for Cognitive lead to some interesting Genetics meeting.

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Behavioural reproductive isolation in Drosophila montana

Paris Veltsos . School of Biology, University of St Andrews

ow many genes need to survived in the wild. Collection Hchange in a fly before it of flies from the wild is becomes a new species? The therefore an essential part of quest for discovering such the project. 'speciation genes' has been based on either top-down (start Our phenotypes of choice are with lab mutants in candidate potentially essential for genes) or bottom-up (start with mating: they characterise the population analyses leading to systems of courtship song and genomic regions) approaches. cuticular hydrocarbons - fly We aim to combine the two by pheromones. The male-female conducting a QTL interactions during courtship (quantitative trait locus) study can be thought of as sender- based on a pedigree of wild- receiver systems, albeit in a caught flies. QTL studies are, language we are not used to: at a basic level, correlations song, smell and taste. between phenotypes and Compatibility between the genotypes. Advances in actual and expected message, sequencing technology allow determines the chances of for the genotypes to include mating. Given enough time, the both candidate genes, and courtship systems can evolve to neutral markers, hence the different directions in different marriage of the bottom-up and populations. Populations top-down approaches. When evolving independently can end asking evolutionarily relevant up 'tuned out' of each other so questions, it is very important that, if they were to meet, the for the genotypes studied to individuals from one would represent natural genetic avoid mating individuals from variation. For example, while the other. This seems to be the mutants in candidate genes case for courtship song display relevant phenotypes, frequency in the fly Drosophila they are usually identified in montana, where the female the lab and might never have preference has evolved to The author collects D. Montana specimens. © Paris Veltsos

http://biology.st-andrews.ac.uk/parisveltsoslab/

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different directions in US and grant provided by The Genetics snowing - conditions far from 1. Klappert, K., Mazzi, D., Finish populations1. Society, has funded a collection ideal for fly collection. We took Hoikkala, A. & at a field station near the opportunity to visit the Ritchie, M. G. Male The study will increase our Kuusamo, Finland. This is a Kiutakongas rapids, the most courtship song and female preference understanding of the genetic location from which the group impressive in the country, at variation between basis of variation in important of Prof Anneli Hoikkala, with least according to the local phylogeographicall traits to reproductive isolation, which we collaborate, have national park sign. Eventually y distinct populations of and hence, potentially, the first been consistently sampling the weather did improve and by Drosophila steps in speciation. The with success in the past. (This the end of the 10 day trip we montana. availability of multiple year they collected from had about 300 flies, which Evolution 61, 1481- 1488 (2007). pedigrees will allow to scratch Colorado, see should be sufficient for the surface on tantalising http://mountainflyers.wordpres obtaining the offspring of 40 D. questions. For example is the s.com/). montana females - our aim for same genetic architecture the founders of the pedigree. responsible for trait variation The trip from Edinburgh was We will only know how many in different populations? Is quite adventurous, requiring a D. montana were caught after evolution predictable i.e. is the 5 hour drive preceded by 3 they are interviewed: 3 species same result reached flights, before reaching the coexist and they are independently in different field station. But it was indistinguishable except for populations through the same definitely worth it, as the when they are allowed to sing. genetic pathways? We hope to remoteness of the location I would like to thank The successfully establish contributes to its beauty and Genetics Society for making pedigrees from Colorado and calmness. The first 3 days were the trip possible. Kuusamo, and compare them to very disappointing, as the the one established from temperature was below 5oC and Vancouver last year. The field there were brief instances of

Fly traps in the beautiful Finnish countryside. © Paris Veltsos

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Coping with climate change: patterns of genetic variation, phenotypic variation and dispersal in six species of dragonfly

Helena Johansson . Institutionen för Ekologi, Miljö och Geovetenskap, Umeå University, Sweden.

lobal climate change is insight into which factors (or Gexpected to profoundly combinations of factors) alter conditions for existence facilitates survival in a for numerous species. In changing global climate, and order to cope with increasing also into the relative role of temperatures species will peripheral populations. have to genetically adapt to new conditions, migrate to We are studying six species areas with suitable conditions from the Coenagrion family of or their reaction norm in damselflies: two species, C. critical traits must allow for johanssoni and C. armatum, are adaptation without genetic found in the north of Europe, changes (Gienapp et al 2008). C. puella and C. pulchellum In addition, there is some have wide ranging central debate over the function and European distributions, and C. fate of populations at range scitulum and C. mercuriale are margins; are these found in southern Europe. populations more vulnerable They are all small, bright blue to climate change because damselflies with black they tend to be smaller, markings, and can be seen fragmented and may harbour flying and mating by various less genetic variation than water bodies across Europe on central populations, or do summer days when the sun is they represent potential shining and the wind is still. source populations of locally In 2008 and 2009 sampling of Damsel flies sampled by the author in Spain. adapted individuals with high the northern species was © Helena Johansson potential for further adaptive carried out by researchers change (Bridle and Vines based at Umeå Universitet 2006)? Studying central and (Frank Johansson, Viktor peripheral populations of Nilsson), and in central Europe congeneric species that differ by a researcher based at K.U. in their geographic Leuven (Robby Stoks). The distribution and other life aim is to sample nine localities history characters may give for each species: three from

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centre of the species range, investigated in these six pond were caught and had and three localities in their species using common garden laid eggs, and a further 10-15 northern and southern range experiments (at three different scitulum were found at each margins. temperatures) in a laboratory site for DNA sampling. setting. Sampling for the southernmost Later in June, sampling localities for C. scitulum and C. In addition, damselfly legs continued by V. Nilsson in mercuriale was carried out in were collected at each locality northern Spain and southern Spain in June with the aid of a to make up a total sample France (with the aid of local Genetic Society travel grant. number of 30 (including the entomologists) where the With only scant information egglaying females). Taking a remaining localities for the available for potential leg does not affect mortality or two species where added to sampling sites, and with some mating success in damselflies, the collection. Coenagrion collaborators tied up with and is acceptable when scitulum was found to exist in sampling elsewhere, we collecting rare or protected more profuse numbers further allocated two weeks in this species such as C. scitulum and north, indicating that we region to locate and collect C. mercuriale. From these 30 indeed did find populations at samples from both species. samples genetic variation the very southern limit for (allelic richness, expected this species. After a wet and cold start in heterozygosity) will be northern Andalusia, when assessed using microsatellite The larvae that hatched from these damselflies do not fly, markers and other population the eggs are now growing in three localities were parameters, such as effective the laboratories, and the legs successfully sampled (in population size and dispersal, are awaiting DNA extraction beaming hot sunshine) for C. can be estimated from these and genotyping in the near mercuriale. We found this data. future. I would like to thank species at two previously the Genetic Society for the unknown localities and at one After the successful collection award of this Heredity locality that had been sampled of C. mercuriale, the journey Fieldwork grant. as part of a biodiversity went to the Spanish south inventory by Junta de coast to sample C. scitulum. A Andalusia. Between nine and promising locality near Huelva 16 females were caught when (recorded in 1995) was found mating, and their eggs retained covered in concrete, so it was for hatching and subsequent promptly decided to travel growth experiments. further east towards the (less Damselflies lay their eggs in concreted) Jerez de la Frontera water, where the larvae also region where one sampling References develop. Growth rate in eggs record from 2003 existed. Here, Gienapp P et al. (2008) Climate change and larvae is dependent on two ponds were found in which and evolution: disentangling water temperature, making C. scitulum resided; one environmental and genetic responses. this a potentially important previously recorded and the Molecular Ecology, 17, 167-178.

functional trait for coping with second one a new locality. Van Doorslaer W and Stoks R (2005) climate change (Van Doorslaer Rain did not stop the sampling Growth rate plasticity in two damselfly and Stoks 2005). There is a here, however wind in the species differing in latitude: contributions of behaviour and plastic component to damselfly afternoon promptly ended physiology. Oikos, 111, 599-605. growth rate (Van Doorslaer sampling activity at 2pm and Stoks 2005), and spatial (compared to 6 pm for C. Bridle JR and Vines TH (2007) Limits to evolution at range margins: when and variation in the reaction norm mercuriale). After a weeks why does adaptation fail? Trends in (mean trait value) is being work, three females from each Ecology and Evolution, 22, 140-147.

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High-throughput yeast phenomics

Francois Cubillos . University of Nottingham

ifferent strains of generated a grid of six crosses Initially, we performed experiments with DSaccharomyces cerevisiae between the strains in order to segregants derived from the American (A) x exhibit a wide genetic and map loci responsible for African (WA) cross. The experiment starts with a phenotypic diversity, which phenotypic variations. I pre-cultivation step and then aliquots from this makes this organism an generated 576 segregants (96 culture are transferred into a plate containing attractive model for mapping per F1 hybrid) and genotyped the specific media to be tested. We performed this quantitative trait loci (QTLs). them using 170 markers evenly procedure for several stress conditions: including Haploid strains of opposite spaced along the genome (1 nutritional stress (media depleted of Biotin), mating types can be easily marker every ~70 kb). This set metal ion stress (NaAsO2 5mM), drug sensitivity crossed to obtain a large of segregants represents a (Selenomethionine 100 mM) and environmental number of segregants that can valuable tool for the yeast stress (growth at 40°C). Cell growth was be quickly genotyped across the genetic community for studying continuously measured during a 72 hour time small genome. The the genetic basis underlying period, which gave us enough time to share lab identification of individual natural variation. In this experiences, have fascinating science discussions functional polymorphisms project, we collaborate with and learn more about the Swedish culture. In this allows the dissection of Prof. A Blomberg and Dr. J context, I was involved in one of the most complex phenotypes and Warringer at Gothenburg exciting traditions in Sweden, the “crayfish advances our understanding of University, who have party” that gave me a good taste of the Swedish the molecular basis of natural established a high-throughput life. Later, back in the laboratory, I was variation. methodology for generating introduced to the data analysis methods, precise phenotypic profiles of primarily using the Prophecy software The Saccharomyces Genome yeast strains under multiple (Fernandez-Ricaud, et al., 2005), which allowed Resequencing Project (SGRP) conditions (Warringer & me to have a better understanding of the released genome sequence of 72 Blomberg, 2003). We started to variables affecting traits and the normalization S. cerevisiae and S. paradoxus phenotype the 576 F1 procedures necessary to avoid experimental strains. A neighbour joining segregants under several variations. In this way, during 3 weeks, I was able phylogenetic tree based on conditions in order to perform to collect data from different crosses grown in pairwise SNP differences shows linkage analysis. Preliminary more than 5 conditions and also get a better point the presence of five well- results indicate continuous of view of the physiological variables affecting defined S. cerevisiae lineages distribution of the phenotypic yeast growth. From the growth curve obtained, (Liti, et al., 2009). The same set profiles typical of complex three traits were extracted: adaptation, rate and of strains was also exposed to a traits, where several genes are efficiency. This dissection allows comparing vast array of 67 conditions to involved and regulated by strain growth at precise stages and determines obtain a global phenotypic complex interactions. QTL key points where isolates show strength or picture. Several strains showed mapping is currently underway deficiencies responsible for growth variation. I extreme phenotypic variation for several of these conditions will use this data to map genes responsible for like resistance to metal ion (e.g. Paraquat and Copper the great phenotypic variation detected among stress or environment resistance). natural isolates of S. cerevisiae. We are currently sensitivity. In order to strengthen this working on a manuscript that describes these Currently in my PhD project collaboration, in August 2009 I genotypes and phenotype resource and all the with Prof. EJ Louis and Dr. G visited Prof. Bloomberg’s lab to strains will be made publically available. Liti, I have selected one strain learn the high-throughput I would like to thank the Genetic Society for their from different geographic phenomics technique; from the funding on this fieldtrip, Jonas Warringer, Enikö origins (Asian, European, experimental design stage Zörgö and Anders Blomberg for their incredible American and African) and through to the data analysis. help with the lab work and their friendship.

[1] Fernandez-Ricaud L, et al (2005) Nucleic Acids Res 33: D369-373. [2] Liti G, et al. (2009) Nature 458: 337-341. [3] Warringer J & Blomberg A (2003) Yeast 20: 53-67. www.genetics.org.uk . 39 Issue 62.qxd:Genetic Society News 1/10/10 14:38 Page 40

www.genetics.org.uk

Check out the new Genetics Society web site, visit our forum and let us know what you think. Issue 62.qxd:Genetic Society News 1/10/10 14:38 Page 41

41 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 Pof the Genetics Society for at least one year may apply for grants of up to Travel Grants for £500 to attend conferences in the area of Genetics that are not sponsored by the Junior Scientists Genetics Society (Please note a maximum of one grant every three years will be awarded to any junior scientist). Applications should be submitted by email in time for one of the quarterly deadlines (1st day of February, May, August and November), to the Society 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.

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urpose: To provide grants of up to £1,500 to cover the travel and accommodation costs associated with pursuing a field- Pbased genetic research project. 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 are two closing dates of 1st March and 1st September 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 . 41 Issue 62.qxd:Genetic Society News 1/10/10 14:38 Page 42

GRANTS 42

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.

42 . GENETICS SOCIETY NEWS . ISSUE 62 Issue 62.qxd:Genetic Society News 1/10/10 14:38 Page 43

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GENERAL INFORMATION 44

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www.nature.com/hdywww.nature.com/hdywww.nature.com/hdy

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