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News Items

2020-09-30	Social Work Student Association raise funds for Sunflower House
2020-09-30	Social Work Student Association raise funds for Sunflower House
2020-09-29	Can COVID-19 change us for the better?
2020-09-29	Can COVID-19 change us for the better?
2020-09-28	UFS’ Next Generation Sequencing Unit designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre
2020-09-28	UFS’ Next Generation Sequencing Unit designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre
2020-09-28	SA needs tough, bold decisions post-COVID-19
2020-09-28	SA needs tough, bold decisions post-COVID-19
2020-09-24	International Cultural Diversity Festival connects cultures
2020-09-24	International Cultural Diversity Festival connects cultures
2020-09-23	#HeritageDay: South African diversity a microcosm of the world
2020-09-23	#HeritageDay: South African diversity a microcosm of the world
2020-09-23	Legalising communal artisanal small-scale miners
2020-09-23	Legalising communal artisanal small-scale miners
2020-09-23	The Heritage of Hope
2020-09-23	The Heritage of Hope
2020-09-23	Third Amazing Race journey through Africa
2020-09-23	Third Amazing Race journey through Africa
2020-09-23	Can we use African Indigenous Knowledge to tackle COVID-19?
2020-09-23	Can we use African Indigenous Knowledge to tackle COVID-19?
2020-09-23	UFS hosts 2020 Virtual International Cultural Diversity Festival
2020-09-23	UFS hosts 2020 Virtual International Cultural Diversity Festival
2020-09-21	Update on developments at the UFS
2020-09-21	Update on developments at the UFS
2020-09-22	You too can get behind Ubuntu
2020-09-22	You too can get behind Ubuntu
2020-09-17	Nutrition in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
2020-09-17	Nutrition in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
2020-09-16	Student Affairs research colloquium: Connecting meaningfully in a digital world
2020-09-16	Student Affairs research colloquium: Connecting meaningfully in a digital world
2020-09-16	UFS hosts national #HeritageDay webinar with SA Poet Laureate
2020-09-16	UFS hosts national #HeritageDay webinar with SA Poet Laureate
2020-09-15	Plant breeding enhances crop improvement
2020-09-15	Plant breeding enhances crop improvement
2020-09-15	Your safety and survival key during kidnapping
2020-09-15	Your safety and survival key during kidnapping
2020-09-14	UFS part of new international digital humanities history project
2020-09-14	UFS part of new international digital humanities history project
2020-09-14	Kovsie sports star one of Mail & Guardian’s 200 exceptional young South Africans
2020-09-14	Kovsie sports star one of Mail & Guardian’s 200 exceptional young South Africans
2020-09-11	UFS dermatologist publishes first-ever comprehensive skin atlas
2020-09-11	UFS dermatologist publishes first-ever comprehensive skin atlas
2020-09-11	Black women’s hair: A political battlefield
2020-09-11	Black women’s hair: A political battlefield
2020-09-11	The ignored threat of fungal infections
2020-09-11	The ignored threat of fungal infections
2020-09-10	‘Do, Re, Mental Health’ – Harmonising Well-being with Music
2020-09-10	‘Do, Re, Mental Health’ – Harmonising Well-being with Music
2020-09-10	Dr Madiope participating in annual Adelaide Tambo lecture at TUT
2020-09-10	Dr Madiope participating in annual Adelaide Tambo lecture at TUT
2020-09-10	'Kamphoer' author delivers another compelling novel
2020-09-10	'Kamphoer' author delivers another compelling novel
2020-09-09	2020 UFS Thought-Leader Series: The South African Economy
2020-09-09	2020 UFS Thought-Leader Series: The South African Economy
2020-09-09	Call for contributions: 2020 International Cultural Diversity Festival
2020-09-09	Call for contributions: 2020 International Cultural Diversity Festival
2020-09-08	Finding safe havens for biodiversity in the eastern Free State
2020-09-08	Finding safe havens for biodiversity in the eastern Free State
2020-09-07	UFS and CUT research projects get funding
2020-09-07	UFS and CUT research projects get funding
2020-09-07	‘People must be at the centre of what we do’
2020-09-07	‘People must be at the centre of what we do’
2020-09-05	We are ready
2020-09-05	We are ready
2020-09-04	Return of students to campus during Level 2
2020-09-04	Return of students to campus during Level 2
2020-09-03	Opportunities revealed by COVID-19 for continuously developing a universally accessible university
2020-09-03	Opportunities revealed by COVID-19 for continuously developing a universally accessible university
2020-08-31	ITP Transformation Week: Call for Contributions
2020-08-31	ITP Transformation Week: Call for Contributions
2020-09-02	Faculty of Health Sciences welcomes donations of PPEs
2020-09-02	Faculty of Health Sciences welcomes donations of PPEs
2020-09-03	Virtual Graduation Ceremonies, 6-9 October 2020
2020-09-03	Virtual Graduation Ceremonies, 6-9 October 2020
2020-09-07	New biosafety laboratory to improve health quality
2020-09-07	New biosafety laboratory to improve health quality
2020-09-02	UFS postdoctoral fellow wins medal at international webinar
2020-09-02	UFS postdoctoral fellow wins medal at international webinar
2020-09-02	Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, visits the UFS
2020-09-02	Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, visits the UFS
2020-09-01	SAA, fly me to the moon
2020-09-01	SAA, fly me to the moon
2020-09-01	First-ever UFS winner of TEN Campaign Award says it will open doors to many learning opportunities for her
2020-09-01	First-ever UFS winner of TEN Campaign Award says it will open doors to many learning opportunities for her
2020-09-01	Devina Harry accepted into the Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme
2020-09-01	Devina Harry accepted into the Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme
2020-09-01	Intersectionality of womanhood unpacked in UFS Women’s Month webinar
2020-09-01	Intersectionality of womanhood unpacked in UFS Women’s Month webinar

News Archive

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

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