Dr Jeremy Austin with one of his study subjects, a preserved Tasmanian Tiger.
Source: The University of Adelaide
Dr Jeremy Austin returns to Melbourne Museum on 28 September to speak about his work as Deputy Director of the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (ACAD) at the University of Adelaide.
In his lecture Reconstructing the past to inform the present, Jeremy will explain some of the unique difficulties and exciting prospects of working with ancient DNA.
Ancient DNA is the genetic material that remains tens, hundreds or thousands of years after an organism has died. Fragmented by time, weather and biological decay, ancient DNA requires specialised techniques for its extraction and interpretation. Despite the difficulties, it can provide valuable data about extinct animals, how modern populations evolved, and what environments were like centuries ago.
ACAD has applied ancient DNA techniques to modern conundrums, such as the identity of the unknown sailor from the HMAS Sydney, how the Tasmanian Devils reached such low levels of genetic diversity, and whether Tasmanian Tigers were still around in the 1950s.
Jeremy has studied the ancient DNA from museum specimens since the early 1990s. He joined MV in 2003 to establish the Ancient DNA Lab at Melbourne Museum to look at classification of birds and reptiles. During winter school holidays, he ran the DNA Lab On The Floor program that identified owl species from DNA in feathers sent in by the public. This program allowed museum visitors to watch real DNA research in progress. Since moving to the University of Adelaide in 2005, his connection with MV has remained strong – he is an active Honourary Research Associate and co-supervises two student projects on ancient DNA of the collection's frog specimens.
Lecture details:
The Age Theatre – Melbourne Museum
Monday 28 September, 2009 – 3.30 pm
Free, but bookings essential: 13 11 02