Autumn 2019
Date: Wednesday 18th September 2019
Presenter: Guro K. Sandvik, CIGENE
Title: CRISPR: designer babies and dehorned cows
How to encourage the public to reject a revolutionizing technique with unlimited potential for science, environment and human welfare
Abstract: CRISPR is a fantastic new technique, and can be used to manipulate the DNA and RNA in ways we could only dream of a couple of years ago. In this talk, I will present some new exciting techniques and use some examples from my previous postdoc working with CRISPR in live mouse brain. Despite the huge potential this technique has for improving food production and medical treatment, the public view of this method is not always so positive, in part because eager scientists and companies use the technique prematurely. I will discuss some recent happenings that is increasing the public’s skepticism towards the CRISPR technique.
Date: Thursday 26th September 2019
Presenter: Pernille Bronken Eidesen
Title: Double up to succeed? Understanding mechanisms and evolutionary consequences of autopolyploidy
Abstract: The arctic flora is dominated by polyploids, and diversification through polyploidy seems particularly beneficial in extreme environments. Still, the direct effect of polyploidy, autopolyploidy in particular, on evolutionary development and success of a species is largely unknown. In this project we aim at reducing knowledge gaps regarding formation, establishment and niche divergence of autopolyploid lineages in natural systems. We have recently established a field-laboratory that include a set-up for autopolyploidy-research on the mixed ploidy species Saxifraga oppositifolia. Through combined molecular and field-based investigations we are adding new pieces to this fascinating puzzle.
Date: Wednesday 9th October 2019
Presenter: Olga Pawłowska, CIGENE
Title: Adaptation to transposable elements in Drosophila simulans
Abstract: Transposable elements (TEs) are genomic parasites that proliferate within host genomes, and can also invade new species. The P-element, a DNA-based transposable element, recently invaded two Drosophila species: D. melanogaster in the 20th century, and D. simulans, in the 21st. In this talk I present analyses of D. simulans collected early and late in the invasion of the P-element that shed light on the role of silencing RNA molecules (piRNAs) during invasion of TEs.
Date: Tuesday 22nd October 2019
Presenter: Trevor Krabbenhoft
Title: Sequening the suckers: a new teleost resource for understanding the evolution following whole genome duplication’
Date: Wednesday 6th November 2019
Presenter: Hanne Dvergedal
Title: Towards an understanding of the genetics and physiology underlying variation in feed efficiency in salmon (Salmo salar)
Abstract An important trait for animal production is how efficiently animals convert their feed into muscle (referred to as feed efficiency). Even small improvements in feed efficiency could save large costs and improve sustainability of the animal production system. In salmon breeding however, individual records of fed efficiency have been lacking due to difficulties in measuring this trait. In this talk I present a new method to measure salmon feed efficiency using stable isotopes and use this method to perform QTL and gene expression analyses to identify genes and genomic regions associated with variation in this important production trait.
H. Dvergedal, J. Ødegård, M. Øverland, L.T. Mydland and G. Klemetsdal
Date: Wednesday 4th of December
Presenter: Susan Johnston
Title: The evolution of recombination rate variation in wild populations
Abstract: Meiotic recombination is often essential for proper chromosome segregation and is an important driver of genetic diversity. The relative benefits and costs of recombination vary with selection and demography: if recombination rate itself is heritable, then it has the potential to evolve. Our research investigates the evolution of recombination rates in wild populations in Soay sheep (Ovis aries) and Red deer (Cervus elaphus) by identifying genes associated with recombination rate and examining their relationship with reproductive success and survival. I will also discuss the implications of these findings for understanding the evolutionary importance of recombination rate variation more broadly across taxa.
S.E. Johnston, C. Bérénos, J. Huisman, P. Ellis, J. Slate, J.M. Pemberton
Spring 2019
Date: May 22nd, NB new time: 11:00-11:45
Speakers: Ivar Grytten, Geir Kjetil Sandve og Knut Rand, UiO
Title: Graph-based genome representations
Abstract: See the seminar schedule
Date: May 8th
Speaker: Siri Fjellheim, IPV/CIGENE, NMBU
Title: Evolution of cold acclimation and its role in niche transition in the temperate grass
Date: April 10th
Speaker: Philine Feulner, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry, Switserland
Title: Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. Genomics of the Alpine whitefish radiation
Date: April 3rd
Speakers: Tom Gilbert and Morten Limborg
Topics:
- Life through the hologenomic window
- Applied hologenomics
Date: March 20th
Speaker: Nicola Barson, CIGENE, NMBU
Title: The rainbow genome reveals genetic basis for sex-dependent migratory behavior
Date: March 6th
Speaker: Mads Albertsen, Aalborg University
Title: Genomic-centric metagenomics in the long-read era
Time: 10:15-11:00 (for this seminar only)
Date: February 20th
Speaker: Amine Namouchi, CIGENE, NMBU
Title: Tracing the plague through Medieval times using metagenomics and phylogenomics of ancient DNA
Date: February 6th
Speaker: Yann Guigen and Julien Bobe, INRA, France
Title: Novel teleost whole-genome sequences for studying genome evolution after whole genome duplication (Julien) and sex determination (Yann)
Autumn 2018
Date: November 21st
Speaker: Dr. Michel Moser – postdoctor at CIGENE | BIOVIT |NMBU
Title: Genomic insighs into pollinator adaptation in Petunia
Abstract can be found here.
Date: October 24th
Speaker: Dr. Camille Berthelot, Research Associate (CR2) at INSERM, Paris, France.
Title: Regulatory evolution of mammalian genomes
Abstract can be found here.
Date: October 10th 
Speaker: Dr. Marie-Odile Baudement, postdoctor at CIGENE | BIOVIT |NMBU
Talk title: “Mapping the functional genomic landscape through sequencing of High-salt Recovered Sequences”
Date: 5th of September
Speaker: Dr. Alexander Suh (lab webpage), Dept. of Evolutionary Biology (EBC), Uppsala University
Title: Filling assembly gaps and knowledge gaps with transposable elements
Spring 2018
Date: Wednesday 8th May
Speaker: Prof. Jorge Fernandes
Title: Growth-related epigenetic changes during domestication of Nile tilapia
Date: Wednesday 25th April.
Speaker: Ass. prof. Gustav Vaaje-Kolstad, KBM/NMBU
Title: Proteomic properties of the Atlantic salmon skin-mucus and its microbiota
Date: Wednesday 4th of April
Speaker: Prof. Yves Van de Peer
Talk title: The evolutionary significance of polyploidy.
Place: Festspisesalen på samfunnet (see map: Kart_festspisesal)
Time: 12.15-13.00
Date: Wednesday 21st of March
Speaker: Associate prof. Ola Westengen, Noragric, NMBU
Talk title: Crops and cultures – a co-evolutionary perspective on domestication
Date: Wednesday 8th of March
Speaker: Prof. Susan McCouch, Cornell University, USA
Talk title: The history of rice domestication: genetic isolation punctuated by genetic exchange
Time: 09:15-10.00
SKP auditorium
Date: Wednesday 7th of February
Fabian Grammes, researcher IHA/BIOVIT, NMBU
Talk title: Epigenomic impact on sea lice resistance in Atlantic salmon
Autumn 2017
Date: Wednesday 29 November, 12.15-13.00
Speaker: Tatiana Belova, researcher IPV, NMBU
Talk title: Putting the bread wheat genome sequence to work: analysing Norwegian bread wheat quality cultivars and wheat allergenicity epitopes
Date: Wednesday 15th November
Speaker: Ass. Prof. Simen Rød Sandve
Talk title: The grayling genome reveals insights into gene expression evolution following genome duplication
Where: Husdyrfagbygningen, room H109, 12.15-13.00
Date: Wednesday 1st of October
Presenter: Knut Rudi, Professor in Microbiology. KMB, NMBU
Talk title: Gut microbiota of Atlantic salmon
Date: Wednesday 18th of October
Presenter: Torgeir R Hvidsten. Professor in Bioinformatics. KMB, NMBU
Talk title: Gene regulatory networks involved in wood development (find paper here)
Date: Monday 2nd of October
Presenter: Anna Wargelius. Group leader at the Norwegian Institute for Marine Research.
Talk title: Gene editing-addressing major sustainability issues
in Atlantic salmon farming