Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
News Items
| 2022-01-28 |
Prof Smit elected as member of prestigious American Association for Thoracic Surgery |
| 2022-01-28 |
Prof Smit elected as member of prestigious American Association for Thoracic Surgery |
| 2022-01-28 |
Opinion: Ramaphosa vs Sisulu scold war: Winning hearts and minds of constituents |
| 2022-01-28 |
Opinion: Ramaphosa vs Sisulu scold war: Winning hearts and minds of constituents |
| 2022-01-27 |
“I will never stop creating,” says filmmaker, Mpendulo Myeni |
| 2022-01-27 |
“I will never stop creating,” says filmmaker, Mpendulo Myeni |
| 2022-01-27 |
UFS made steady progress in its research performance over the past five years |
| 2022-01-27 |
UFS made steady progress in its research performance over the past five years |
| 2022-01-26 |
UFS extends its condolences on the passing of Theological giant, Prof Jaap Durand |
| 2022-01-26 |
UFS extends its condolences on the passing of Theological giant, Prof Jaap Durand |
| 2022-01-26 |
UFS proud of remarkable 2021 Free State NSC matric results |
| 2022-01-26 |
UFS proud of remarkable 2021 Free State NSC matric results |
| 2022-01-24 |
Dr Bekithemba Dube advancing decoloniality agenda beyond African borders |
| 2022-01-24 |
Dr Bekithemba Dube advancing decoloniality agenda beyond African borders |
| 2022-01-21 |
New Director for Innovation and Contracts ready to engage and support researchers |
| 2022-01-21 |
New Director for Innovation and Contracts ready to engage and support researchers |
| 2022-01-20 |
UFS United Kingdom Chapter aims to reconnect with alumni |
| 2022-01-20 |
UFS United Kingdom Chapter aims to reconnect with alumni |
| 2022-01-20 |
Mercia Geises – from UFS student to Chief Executive of Standard Bank Namibia |
| 2022-01-20 |
Mercia Geises – from UFS student to Chief Executive of Standard Bank Namibia |
| 2022-01-20 |
Multilingualism initiatives gaining momentum |
| 2022-01-20 |
Multilingualism initiatives gaining momentum |
| 2022-01-19 |
Yes, Mmusi, but all begins with reconfiguring the South African curriculum |
| 2022-01-19 |
Yes, Mmusi, but all begins with reconfiguring the South African curriculum |
| 2022-01-18 |
MBA at 73 – more to come for Prof Andries Stulting |
| 2022-01-18 |
MBA at 73 – more to come for Prof Andries Stulting |
| 2022-01-10 |
Miratho project finds universities could do more to enable black working-class students to participate and succeed |
| 2022-01-10 |
Miratho project finds universities could do more to enable black working-class students to participate and succeed |
| 2022-01-13 |
Zondo Commission findings: A permanent change in SA politics |
| 2022-01-13 |
Zondo Commission findings: A permanent change in SA politics |
| 2022-01-10 |
How UFS research assists teachers in identifying children who need developmental help |
| 2022-01-10 |
How UFS research assists teachers in identifying children who need developmental help |
| 2022-01-03 |
Magic mushrooms, a first formal study |
| 2022-01-03 |
Magic mushrooms, a first formal study |
| 2022-01-03 |
A passion for excellence |
| 2022-01-03 |
A passion for excellence |
| 2022-01-03 |
UFS implements interventions to increase diversity of researchers |
| 2022-01-03 |
UFS implements interventions to increase diversity of researchers |
| 2022-01-10 |
Dr Mpumelelo Ncube driven by the need to succeed and inspire |
| 2022-01-10 |
Dr Mpumelelo Ncube driven by the need to succeed and inspire |
| 2022-01-03 |
Aoate Tsimatsima leads student-sourcing antibiotic discovery network |
| 2022-01-03 |
Aoate Tsimatsima leads student-sourcing antibiotic discovery network |
UFS celebrates establishment of a new department
2008-09-26
 |
|
At the celebration of the establishment of the Department of Genetics are, from the left: Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS, Prof. Johan Spies, head of the Department of Genetics at the UFS, Prof. Chris Viljoen, associate professor at the UFS Department of Haematology and Cell Biology and previously associated with the Department of Genetics; seated: Prof. Paul Grobler, associate professor at the UFS Department of Genetics.
Photo: Stephen Collett
|
UFS celebrates establishment of a new department
The establishment of the Department of Genetics in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State (FS) was recently celebrated on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein.
The department, which formed part of the Department of Plant Sciences, is the only of its kind in the country that conducts research in behavioural genetics. “With behavioural genetics we try to determine if certain human behaviour is hereditary or if it is as a result of the environment. Although this is the fastest growing field of specialty in the United States of America, it is still an unknown field in South Africa,” says Prof. Johan Spies, head of the Department of Genetics.
The other specialty fields of the department are forensic genetics and conservation genetics. “Forensic genetics looks at the compilation of the DNA of animals. Because of our academics’ expertise, the department is regularly requested by the South African Police Service to assist them with establishing the origin of animals – especially in the case of game poaching. We recently completed a research project on cheetahs where we had to establish if they were acquired illegally of part of the farmer’s game. The research showed that the cheetahs were part of the farmer’s own breed,” says Prof. Spies.
Another specialty field of the department is conservation genetics where the genetic variance of animals is researched. A lot of research is done on vervet monkeys to determine from which area in the country they originate. The study must be completed before the 3000 vervet monkeys currently in rehabilitation centres are set free. The behaviour of monkeys in rehabilitation is also being researched.
Prof. Spies says: “Student figures in Genetics show an annual increase of 8% per year for the past five years. The first group of master’s degree students in Genetics will start their studies next year.” The department is also regarded as a leader on Clivia research.
Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
25 September 2008
|