Luigi Guarino

February 15, 2013February 18, 2013

Wild sunflower speciation talk…and more

Talks from #PAGXXI workshop on speciation genomics now available online https://t.co/C1DTh1yi

— Prof Richard Buggs (@RJABuggs) February 15, 2013

Which is particularly cool for us here because it includes that of Rose Andrew of the Rieseberg Lab at the University of British Columbia on “The Genomic and Geographic Landscapes of Sunflower Speciation: The Transition from Local Adaptation.” More from PAGXXI.

LATER: Plus there’s the whole Genomics of Genebanks thing too.

February 15, 2013February 15, 2013

Nibbles: Gates & Slim, Aquino, Home genebank, Quinoa indigestion, Cornish pasties, Exotic vegetables, Funny cheeses, Leafsnap, Beekeeping

Bigshots visit CIMMYT, miss opportunity to mention genebank. No, wait…
Bigshot visits IRRI, including genebank.
Yeah but who needs those anyway, you can make your own!
Now the French want their say on quinoa.
Speaking of the French, you think there is any horsemeat in Cornish pasties?
“I grew up with zucchini, but I prefer the flavor and texture of angled luffa.”
Gotta love the fact that there’s a thing called the Rogue Creamery.
Missed the fact that Leafsnap had been named one of the top 10 science apps of 2012.
Germans report on Italians helping Ethiopians. To keep bees. One suspects Ethiopians could teach Italians and Germans a thing or two about keeping bees, but that’s another story.

February 13, 2013February 13, 2013

Nibbles: Ancient farming, AnGR, Biofortification, Sustainable diets, Pomegranate project

How much evidence do you need that farming came into Europe with farmers?
Defra report on the UK’s animal genetic resources. Interestingly enough, no edible horse breeds listed.
CIP et al. set up network for the nutritional enhancement of toots and rubers.
So apparently sustainable diets need a business case. Ah, the sorry failed lexicon of contemporary managerialism!
USAID thinks the pomegranate is an exotic fruit in Azerbaijan.

February 12, 2013May 3, 2018

Nibbles: Maize genes, Livestock domestication, Guinea fowl, Plant identification, Juniper conservation, Cacao conservation, Seed talk, IPBES report, Global consultation

Today’s genomic breakthrough involves kernel number in maize.
Neolithic people overhunted, then thought better of it.
Was guinea fowl ever domesticated, I wonder?
How to figure out if you’ve looked hard enough. For plants, that is. And some discussion.
Gin is in trouble. But help is at hand.
A workshop on chocolate and vanilla. My kinda event. And chocolate does need help. Gin, chocolate. Pretty soon life wont be worth living.
Simran Sethi’s Twitter chat after TEDxManhattan was storified, but it’s gone now of course. Try this instead.
Final say on that IPBES-1 gabfest.
And the first say on that “Global Consultation on agricultural biodiversity for sustainable food security” thing.

February 12, 2013February 12, 2013

Prof. Ford-Lloyd speaks!

Brian Ford-Lloyd recently added Professor of Plant Conservation Genetics to the titles of Director of the University Graduate School and Deputy Head of the School of Biosciences at the University of Birmingham. Well, when I say recently, it was three years ago. Anyway, when you become a professor like that, you’re supposed to give an inaugural lecture. And Brian finally did that last week. By special arrangement, here’s his presentation, entitled “Options for conserving agrobiodiversity in a rapidly changing world.” Now go pre-order his book. Congratulations, Brian!