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09 October 2019 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Leonie Bolleurs
SA animal population genetically more diverse than Europe
The Department of Genetics appointed the curator of the mammal collection in Austria’s Natural History Museum, Prof Frank Zachos. From the left are: Lerato Diseko, PhD Human Molecular Genetics; Prof Paul Grobler; Sivuyile Peni, MSc Molecular Genetics; Prof Frank Zachos; and Gerhard van Bosch, MSc Conservation Genetics.


South Africa is one of the greatest places on this planet to study mammals. These are the words of Prof Frank Zachos, newly appointed affiliated Professor in the Department of Genetics at the University of the Free State (UFS). 

He is also the curator of the Mammal Collection at the Natural History Museum in Vienna, Austria, the editor of the Elsevier journal Mammalian Biology, and author of several books, including Species Concepts in Biology. 

During a visit to South Africa, Prof Zachos addressed a group of UFS staff and students on the topic, ‘Conservation biology and genetics on two continents – case studies from mammalogy and ornithology’.

Inbreeding and deformities 

According to Prof Paul Grobler, Head of the UFS Department of Genetics, Prof Zachos has much experience in conservation biology studies. A large part of his work is on the population/conservation genetics of mammals (particularly deer) and, to a lesser degree, birds. Among others, he has studied red deer and the alpine golden eagle and has previously collaborated with Prof Grobler on projects involving local impala and gemsbok populations. 

Prof Grobler explains: “Typical conservation genetics studies helps one understand whether it's genetically going well with a species or population or not. This information can then be used to decide whether to move new animals to a population to prevent loss of genetic diversity.”

In his lecture, Prof Zachos explained the genetic diversity of red deer across Europe, and how this was influenced by past events (glaciers), but also by current anthropogenic factors (motor highways). 

He said there are several similarities between the mammals and birds of Europe and South Africa. The area south of the Sahara, however, is more of a biodiversity hotspot, unlike most areas in Europe where there is often lower genetic diversity in certain species. European deer species, for instance, are inherently less genetically diverse than antelope.

“Small population sizes can result in inbreeding. In some animals, this can result in deformities such as a shorter lower jaw or calves born without eyes,” said Prof Zachos.

Tracing geographic origin

With information on the gene diversity of a population of animals, authorities can implement preventative measures to address inbreeding, e.g. building green bridges to connect populations.

Population/conservation genetics studies are also helpful to determine which animals from a certain population are native to a specific area. Prof Zachos was involved in a study for the Belgian government, tracing the geographic and genetic origin of the country’s red deer. 

He said the ideal is to have genetic information for every population for management applications. 

During his visit, Prof Zachos also visited the Doornkloof Nature Reserve, since he is co-supervising a PhD student in the UFS Department of Genetics, who is based at Doornkloof. 

News Archive

Prof Marais awarded the first UFS Book Prize for Distinguished Scholarship
2015-03-19

Prof Kobus Marais

Prof Kobus Marais, from the Department of Linguistics and Language Practice, was recently awarded the UFS Book Prize for Distinguished Scholarship for 2014.

The prize, awarded for its first time in 2014, consists of an inscribed certificate of honour with a monetary award of R50 000 paid into Marais’s research entity. The book for which Marais received this award is Translation Theory and Development Studies: A Complex Theory Approach (2014, Routledge, New York).

“It falls within the discipline of translation studies, but it is actually an interdisciplinary approach, linking translation studies and development studies,” says Marais.

Therefore, it aims to provide a philosophical underpinning to translation, and relate translation to development.

“The second aim flows from the first section’s argument that societies emerge out of, amongst others, complex translational interactions amongst individuals,” Marais says. “It will do so by conceptualising translation from a complexity and emergence point of view, and by relating this view on emergent semiotics to some of the most recent social research.”

It fulfils its aim further by providing empirical data from the South African context concerning the relationship between translation and development. The book intends to be interdisciplinary in nature, and to foster interdisciplinary research and dialogue by relating the newest trends in translation theory, i.e. agency theory in the sociology of translation, to development theory within sociology. 

“Data are drawn from fields that have received very little if any attention in translation studies, i.e. local economic development, the knowledge economy, and the informal economy, says Marais.”

The UFS Book Prize for Distinguished Scholarship was initiated in 2014 to bestow recognition on any permanent staff member of the UFS for outstanding publications which consist of research published as an original book, on the condition that the greater part (50% or more) of the book has not been published previously. This stimulates the production of significant and original contributions of international quality by our staff. In this way, the UFS is striving, through a series of award-winning books, to enhance the quality of specialised works published by our staff members.

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