Susan Johnston
@susanjohnston.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. Quantitative genetics of meiotic recombination, sex dimorphism, and immunity in 🐦🐟🦄🌾. Shy Glaswegian. Mum of two franco-ecossais.
Happy Eurovision day to all who celebrate 💖
May 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Happy Eurovision day to all who celebrate 💖
I have had an incredible once-in-a-lifetime visit to UNIS Svalbard to attend the MERGE workshop to understand the ecology and evolution of adaptation to climate change in Svalbard reindeer. Such an amazing research system and community at the top of the world!
March 27, 2025 at 7:59 PM
I have had an incredible once-in-a-lifetime visit to UNIS Svalbard to attend the MERGE workshop to understand the ecology and evolution of adaptation to climate change in Svalbard reindeer. Such an amazing research system and community at the top of the world!
Good morning from 78°N 💅❄️
March 25, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Good morning from 78°N 💅❄️
New lab paper in press: crossover dynamics have different genetic bases in female pigs.
RNF212 is associated with crossover rate and interference, but...
SYCP2, MEI4 and PRDM9 are associated with crossover positioning and intra-chromosomal allelic shuffling.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
RNF212 is associated with crossover rate and interference, but...
SYCP2, MEI4 and PRDM9 are associated with crossover positioning and intra-chromosomal allelic shuffling.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
March 19, 2025 at 4:49 PM
New lab paper in press: crossover dynamics have different genetic bases in female pigs.
RNF212 is associated with crossover rate and interference, but...
SYCP2, MEI4 and PRDM9 are associated with crossover positioning and intra-chromosomal allelic shuffling.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
RNF212 is associated with crossover rate and interference, but...
SYCP2, MEI4 and PRDM9 are associated with crossover positioning and intra-chromosomal allelic shuffling.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Birds have a maternally-transmitted germline restricted chromosome (GRC) that is likely enriched for meiotic genes. Pedigree modelling shows that the GRC and W are unlikely to drive recombination rate *variation* in our case.
March 21, 2024 at 4:37 PM
Birds have a maternally-transmitted germline restricted chromosome (GRC) that is likely enriched for meiotic genes. Pedigree modelling shows that the GRC and W are unlikely to drive recombination rate *variation* in our case.
Females have ~1.4 more recombination than males. Interestingly, the sexes have a largely unshared genetic basis (rA ~ 0.3), meaning sex-specific rates have potential for independent evolution.
March 21, 2024 at 4:37 PM
Females have ~1.4 more recombination than males. Interestingly, the sexes have a largely unshared genetic basis (rA ~ 0.3), meaning sex-specific rates have potential for independent evolution.
Recombination rates are heritable and “polygenic” (i.e. caused by many loci of small effect) in both sexes. Many of these appear to act in trans as global modification modifiers.
March 21, 2024 at 4:36 PM
Recombination rates are heritable and “polygenic” (i.e. caused by many loci of small effect) in both sexes. Many of these appear to act in trans as global modification modifiers.
We examined two measures of recombination in >13,000 gametes from >2,600 birds, evenly balanced between males and females.
March 21, 2024 at 4:36 PM
We examined two measures of recombination in >13,000 gametes from >2,600 birds, evenly balanced between males and females.
We used pedigree and SNP data from the ✨amazing✨ long-term study of house sparrows in Helgeland, Norway, to quantify recombination in gametes transmitted from parents to offspring.
March 21, 2024 at 4:35 PM
We used pedigree and SNP data from the ✨amazing✨ long-term study of house sparrows in Helgeland, Norway, to quantify recombination in gametes transmitted from parents to offspring.
New lab preprint by John McAuley et al: the genetic architecture of recombination rates is sexually-dimorphic and polygenic in wild house sparrows. What have we found…? A 🧵👇https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.26.525019v2
March 21, 2024 at 4:34 PM
New lab preprint by John McAuley et al: the genetic architecture of recombination rates is sexually-dimorphic and polygenic in wild house sparrows. What have we found…? A 🧵👇https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.26.525019v2
Are you a non-UK student looking for a PhD in evolutionary genetics? Our lab in Edinburgh is seeking applicants to investigate landscapes of recombination in wild mammals and birds 🦄🐦. More info in link 👇please get in touch ASAP. (Image: Tilly Scott)
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
December 14, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Are you a non-UK student looking for a PhD in evolutionary genetics? Our lab in Edinburgh is seeking applicants to investigate landscapes of recombination in wild mammals and birds 🦄🐦. More info in link 👇please get in touch ASAP. (Image: Tilly Scott)
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...