Our very own Professor Mathew Campbell, of the Neurovascular Genetics Laboratory in Trinity College, Dublin, is leading the way in understanding the blood brain barrier (BBB) and how it functions in health and disease. Dysfunction of the BBB has long …
genetics
Ancient DNA analysis by Trinity team reveals women-centred society in Iron Age Britain
Findings of widespread matrilocality evidence female empowerment in this Celtic society
A team of ancient DNA researchers at Trinity have found evidence of matrilocality — a societal system in which married men migrate to live with their female partner’s community — in Iron Age Britain. The study was published in the …
Geography through genetics
Imagine a map of Ireland. Instead of the usual four provinces, the map is divided into six areas — not defined by political borders but rather by genetic differences.
This map is the result of a new thorough genetic analysis …
Two takes on genetics, race and identity politics
Two SciTech writers give their impression of Adam Rutherford’s December speech to Gensoc and Scisoc
Aisling Greene: Genetics vs. Prejudice
Before the December break, students gathered in the MacNeill lecture theatre for a talk from Dr. Adam Rutherford, the celebrated geneticist, author, and broadcaster. GenSoc (the genetics society) and SciSoc (the science society) hosted the …
Choosing the traits of your children: a genetic testing panel discussion
Trinity’s Genetics Society host its final event of the year yesterday, March 15. A panel discussion entitled Ethics, Genetics & Preimplantation Genetic Testing, this event was led by speakers from four disciplines concerning the area of genetic testing and screening. …
Regenerative medicine and the role of chimeras
Jack Schofield describes the chimeras in medicine and their future in saving people’s live
Genetic Chimera
“A genetic chimera, in contrast, is just biological tissue that contains cells and DNA of multiple species.”
The complex terminology and nomenclature used by scientists is often criticised for being difficult to read or understand. Scientists can, however, …
Influence of selective breeding found on taxidermy goats
Trinity geneticists use taxidermy specimens to show lack of genetic diversity in Irish goats
Trinity geneticists have found that modern day Irish goats lack genetic diversity due largely to intensive selective breeding that has been taking place over the past 200 years. The study is the first instance of taxidermy specimens being used to …
Trinity researchers discover breakthrough with autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia
The research, led by Professor Aoife McLysaght, will be published in the Nature Communications journal
Researchers in Trinity’s department of genetics have isolated a short list of genes that could be responsible for a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders and diseases, including autism, epilepsy, schizophrenia and ADHD.
A team led by Professor Aoife McLysaght carried out …
Genes that make dogs a man’s best friend discovered
Aoife discusses the results of the recent study published in the paper entitled “Genomic Regions Associated With Interspecies Communication in Dogs Contain Genes Related to Human Social Disorders” by Persson et.al.
“Studies have confirmed that dogs, like preverbal infants, are aware of the intentional dimension of communication, an interspecies social skill that not even apes possess.”
Have you ever felt as though your dog is trying to talk to you? Not …
HFEA granted permission to genetically modify human embryos in the UK
Turlough discusses the possible research outcomes carried out by the pioneering developmental biologist Dr. Kathy Niakan.
Last week, scientists at the Francis Crick Institute in London received the go-ahead to edit the genomes of human embryos from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). It didn’t take long for other scientists to begin issuing statements about …