Date Time
Breakthrough for kākāpō hatching could be in genes
Research using DNA in a new way could help Aotearoa New Zealand’s kākāpo – one of the country’s most critically endangered native birds – hatch chicks more successfully.
University of Canterbury doctoral student Jana Wold and Associate Professor Tammy Steeves plan to investigate DNA to find the cause of high rates of hatching failure in the endangered kākāpō.
A University of Canterbury-led nationwide project investigating the DNA structure of the flightless parrot in a bid to find the cause of high hatching failure is launching later this year.
Share
A University of Canterbury-led nationwide project investigating the DNA structure of the flightless parrot in a bid to find the cause of high hatching failure is launching later this year.
Leading conservation geneticist Dr Tammy Steeves, an Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Canterbury, believes the research will be the first in the world to investigate the relationship between DNA structure and early hatching failure.
It builds on her team’s earlier work using genomic data to boost the recovery of New Zealand’s endangered birds.
“There is growing evidence that differences in DNA structure play an important role in determining other reproductive traits in birds,” she says.
Incumbent Gail Johnson, newcomer Desmon Duncan-Walker elected to city commission
Voter turnout fell to about 11%, the lowest in Gainesville city elections since 1997 March 17, 2021 | 7:15am EDT
Desmon Duncan-Walker, the District 1 Gainesville City Commissioner-elect, talks to reporters after her win at Cypress & Grove Brewing Co. on March 16, 2021. Photo by Julia Coin | The Independent Florida Alligator
Gainesville residents voted Tuesday to re-elect one city commissioner who saw them through a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, but voted out the other incumbent in favor of a local activist.
In the tight race that some East Gainesville residents followed closely, Desmon Duncan-Walker replaced incumbent Gigi Simmons, who was elected in 2
Bollards installed by mistake will now finally be removed Trafford Council leader Andrew Western has apologised to residents of Lostock Road in Davyhulme for delays in removing bollards being mistakenly installed outside their homes. Cllr Western blamed the flooding of last week for disrupting the council’s decision making however the mistake was reported six weeks ago. Residents say he had originally promised to take action within a ‘couple of days’. Local resident Joanna Roberts said: “My family and I were left distressed by the ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude of the council. Now the bollards have been removed on the north side residents intend to pressure the council to fully investigate and take action to ensure similar problems don’t occur again.