Science Media Centre

A single lock of Aboriginal hair has revealed the genetic origins the first Australians and offered insight into the spread of early man. Researchers have sequenced the DNA from a 100 year old lock of hair belonging to an Australian Aboriginal. The genome sequence has shown the Aboriginals were genetically separated from other human populations [...]

This week the Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium published the genome of the humble potato in the international journal Nature. The Consortium is a collection of academic and industrial research groups – including New Zealand’s Plant & Food Research -  which over the last 5 years has been working to unravel the DNA blueprint of the [...]

DNA analysis of feather cloaks dating back to 1810 has revealed fascinating insights about historical Maori trade and movement. Scientists from Massey, Auckland and Griffiths Universities, in collaboration with a host of Museums , have carefully analysed the DNA of feathers used in traditional Maori cloaks. Their samples came from 113 cloaks sourced from museums [...]

University of Otago scientists have uncovered how a key protein is involved in the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells. Research into the protein PAX8, undertaken by Prof Mike Eccles and his team, has just been published in an high-ranking international journal. Reporting for the Otago Daily Times, John Gibb explains the implications of the research. [...]

New Zealand scientists have helped establish a link between a mother’s diet while pregnant and the probability that her child will be obese. A team of scientists from New Zealand and the UK, including Sir Peter Gluckman of the Liggins Institute (NZ), examined epigentic modification (chemical changes in the DNA structure) in umbilical tissue from [...]

An article in the NZ Herald looks at whether we may be descended, at least in part, from Neanderthals, and discusses research suggesting that some of us carry parts of the Neanderthal genome The Neanderthal genome mitochondrial genome sequence, announced in 2008, suggested that this was not the case – the recent sequencing of the [...]

Researchers will use DNA profiling to count Maui dolphins, which are the world’s rarest. An excerpt: (read in full here) “The world’s smallest and rarest dolphins live only off the west coast of the North Island and the Department of Conservation says fewer than 150 are thought to be left.”

An international study involving a University of Otago researcher has for the first time used a specific genome scanning technique to identify a gene variant which could explain why some African people are more susceptible to tuberculosis than others. The disease is estimated to affect around a third of the world’s population, and kills millions [...]

Eileen Goodwin writes in the Otago Daily Times about a recent seminar by Professor Anita Thapar in which she discussed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and why it’s not a case of ‘too much sweets’. Evidence is emerging that the disorder may be neurodevelopmental, which means it would be in the same class as schizophrenia [...]

Jill Galloway writes in the Waikato Times about scientists’ efforts to better understand beef and sheep genetics in a bid to improve Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) information. EBVs are widely used, but accurate genetic tests could potentially save farmers years and improve their stock. An excerpt: (read in full here) “Professor Goddard said EBVs work, [...]