Category: Talks and events

90 ára afmæli Guðmundar Eggertssonar erfðafræðings

Arnar Pálsson, 11/05/2023

©Kristinn Ingvarsson

Opnunarávarp dagskrár í tilefni 90 ára afmælis Guðmundar Eggertssonar erfðafræðings.

Litla Torg, HÍ, 26. apríl 2023.

Kæru gestir, vinir og Guðmundur. Í dag fögnum við með Guðmundi Eggertssyni erfðafræðingi. Hann átti 90 ára afmæli á mánudaginn, 24. Apríl. Það er sérstakur heiður að fá að opna þennan fund. Lærlingar Guðmundar munu í dag fjalla um feril hans og störf, rannsóknir og áhrif.

Í gær voru 70 ár síðan þrjár greinar birtust um eiginleika og byggingu DNA, eftir Wilkins, Stokes og Wilson, Franklin og Gosling og Watson og Crick. Spurning hvort þetta sé tilviljun eða nauðsyn?

DNA sameinar allar lífverur á jörðinni, ásamt lögmálum lífefna, fruma, vistkerfa og þróunar. Titill fyrstu bókar Guðmundar var "líf af lífi". Viðfangsefni erfðafræði er hvernig gen kemur af geni. Og í dag sjáum hvernig af Guðmundi koma margir Guðmundar. Ekki bókstaflega litlir Guðmundar, heldur lærlingar innblásnir af fræðunum sem hann kenndi okkur og áhuga á sameindalíffræði sem hann smitaði okkur af.

Guðmundur hefur birt fjölda greina um bakteríuerfðafræði, hvernig erfðatáknmálið er túlkað af frumum og virkni. Einnig erfðafræði hitakærra baktería, sem lagði grunn að rannsóknum í líftækni og örveruvistfræði hverasvæða. Það verður fjallað minna um þessi flóknu og forvitnilegu kerfi í dag, og meira um söguna, störf, persónu og fyrirmyndina.

Áhrif hans á íslensk vísindi og sérstaklega líffræði eru ákaflega jákvæð, víðtæk og margslungin. Ég má til með að deila einni sögu. Grensásvegur 12 var kumbaldi sem lak í rigningu. Guðmundur mætti á slíkum dögum til að tæma og staðsetja fötur sem tóku við lekanum. Einnig fór hann upp á þak til að kítta.

Þrennt vil ég minnast á að síðustu.

Í fyrsta lagi vill ég minnast Sigríðar Helgu Þorbjarnardóttur sem féll frá alltof ung. Hún var sérfræðingur Líffræðistofnunar og vann mjög náið með Guðmundi, var meistaraleiðbeinandi minn og margra annara nemenda. Hún var sérlega klár og vönduð. Ég naut þeirrar forréttinda að hafa bæði Siggu og Guðmund sem leiðbeinendur.

Í öðru lagi vil ég minnast gæsku Guðmundar. Hann er alltaf jákvæður og hvetjandi. Munið þið eftir styggðaryrði eða ofsakasti hans? Nei, því slíkt gerðist ekki. Jafnvel þegar hann og aðrir voru að spyrna við gerræðislegum hugmyndum um gagnagrunn á heilbrigðissviði.

Í þriðja lagi er það frábært skopskyn. Guðmundur hefur mikið gaman að góðu gríni. Hann laumaði litlum bröndurum inn í umfjöllun um tRNA og önnur apparöt frumunar,  og lagði oft glæru með bröndurum úr New Yorker eða sambærilegu á skjávarpan áður en fyrirlestrar hófust, nemendum til ánægju.

Að síðustu, hjartanlega til hamingju með afmælið Guðmundur. Ágæta samkunda, ég lýsi þetta málþing og bjórfund settann.

 

Þakkir fá aðrir í skipulagsnefnd, Sigríður Rut Franzdóttur, Snædís Björnsdóttur, Eiríkur Steingrímsson og Zophonías O. Jónssoni. Einnig þökkum við Verkfræði og náttúruvísindasviði og Líf- og umhverfisvísindadeild fyrir fjárhagslegan stuðning.

Söngfjélagið syngur kl 17:00.

The moral status of stem cell-derived embryo models

Arnar Pálsson, 10/05/2023

"This event will be organised as a mini symposium at the University of Iceland (venue: the university aula). The Nordic Committee on Bioethics has invited some of the most prominent researchers from the Nordics and beyond, with expertise in stem cells- and embryonic research, ethics and law. They will share their research and their reflections in the form of presentations and conversations.

The symposium is in collaboration with the Graduate programme in molecular life sciences, BioMedical Center (BMC) at the University of Iceland and is open to the public (registration is required). No registration fee.

The symposium will also be live-streamed. Please note that the time zone is GMT/Iceland.

Background

Currently, the 14-day rule in science policy and regulation, limits research on human embryos (outside the uterus) to the first 14 days of gestation. This is referred to as the 14-day rule. This means, that week 3-4 of human embryonic development is something of a “black box” because scientists cannot see what is taking place in the uterus during the early stages of gestation beyond the first two weeks. In recent years, progress has been made in early embryo research beyond the first two weeks, via “human embryo models,” developed from stem stells, and the study of mouse embryos. Making further use of these discoveries would, however, require researchers to go beyond the 14-day rule when culturing human embryos and embryo models. This raises various ethical issues, not the least concerning the ethical and legal status of such “embryo models” and it re-actualises the debate on a potential extension of the 14-day rule.

Various ethical dilemmas emerge, which forces us to think about moral principles such as the duty to prevent suffering and the duty to respect the value of human life. Where is the balance concerning the benefits these embryo models provide vs. ethical concerns? What is the legal and ethical status of human-embryo-like structures now and in the future – should it be the same for embryo models as for human embryos? What are the financial interests and how should they be regulated? Why should we want to go beyond the 14-day rule? What are the particular questions that arise from a Nordic point of view with regards to the moral status of a human embryo model and culturing human embryos beyond the 14 days?

Speakers

  • Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, professor of Development and Stem Cells at the University of Cambridge, UK and California Institute of Technology, USA
  • Fredrik Lanner, Assistant Professor at Department for Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Johanna-Ahola Launonen, Post-Doctoral Researcher at Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland
  • Garðar Árnason, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Akureyri, Iceland"

Two special courses this spring

Arnar Pálsson, 17/02/2023
The biology programme offers two short courses this spring.
2 ECTS 7-DAY SUMMER COURSE

This 7-day workshop will be based on the recently published Conservation and the Genomics of Populations (3rd edition, Allendorf et al. 2022). This established book provides a comprehensive overview of the essential background, concepts, and tools required to understand how genetics and genomics can be used to conserve species, reduce the threat of extinction, and manage species of ecological or commercial importance. Allendorf will present the subject of the book over three days and then students will prepare and present a short lecture of their project or article. New genomic techniques and statistical analyses are crucial tools for the conservation geneticist. This workshop will provide an essential toolkit grounded in population genetics theory, coupled with basic and applied research examples from plants, animals, and microbes. The workshop will examine genetic and phenotypic variation in natural populations, the principles and mechanisms of evolutionary change, evolutionary response to anthropogenic change, and applications in conservation and management. Topics 1. Introduction 2. Genomic variation in populations 3. Hardy-Weinberg principle 4. Genetic drift & effective population size 5. Natural selection 6. Mutation 7. Gene flow & population structure 8. Multiple loci 9. Hybridization 10. Inbreeding depression 11. Units of conservation 12. Demography and extinction 13. Exploited populations 14. Climate change 15. Genetic monitoring

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course, a students should be able to:

  • to describe the background and the concepts of population genetics with relation to conservation
  • to describe the main genetic and genomic methods which can be applied in species conservation
  • to describe applications of genetics and genomics in management of ecological and commercial importance.
For more info contact

Snæbjörn Pálsson
2 ECT 5-DAY SUMMER SCHOOL
The mesopelagic zone (between 200-1000m depth) is the habitat of the largest fish biomass in the ocean.
Mesopelagic fish likely hold a key role in global climate change by participating in the largest migration in the animal kingdom, transporting and storing carbon into the deep sea.

Credit: Leif Grimsmo, SINTEF Ocean

About the course
The SUMMER (Sustainable Management of Mesopelagic Resources, 2019-2024) EU project aims to evaluate if and how mesopelagic resources can be sustainably exploited.
To share the knowledge of the mesopelagic zone, experts from the SUMMER project have arranged a 5-day summer school course for 2 ECT credits, with the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute and the University of Iceland, in Iceland May 22nd – May 26th 2023.
The course will feature lectures from world-leading experts on mesopelagic research, engaging discussions, as well as hands-on laboratory work on mesopelagic fishes – in addition to the dissection of a marine mammal, apex predator of mesopelagic fish.
After completing the course
Students will be familiar with:
• Biology and Ecology of the Mesopelagic Zone
• Taxonomy and Diversity of Mesopelagic Fish
• Mesopelagic Fisheries (Economy, Governance,
Technology)
• Dissection of Mesopelagic Fish and Mammals
Students will develop valuable knowledge of one of the most understudied ecosystems in the world’s oceans, meet worldwide leaders in mesopelagic research, and study in an international group.
Students will also get to experience Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland in May – during a wonderfully bright spring.
The course itself is free for participatnts, but travel expenses (food, lodgings, and transport) must be covered individually.
International students are encouraged to apply, and housing is available on the university campus.
For more information
Website: www.summerh2020.eu
Email: hrandhawa@hi.is

Contributions to the Icebio2021

Arnar Pálsson, 22/12/2021

The lab had several contributions to the biannual Biology in Iceland conference. These were, in no particular order.

Talks

Experimental tests of unicoloniality in Hypoponera species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) living underground Reykjavík
Marco Mancini, Andreas Guðmundsson, Mariana Lucia Tamayo, James K. Wetterer, Arnar Pálsson

Diversity in the internal functional feeding elements of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, morphs in Lake Thingvallavatn, Iceland.
Guðbjörg Ósk Jónsdóttir, Finnur Ingimarsson, Sigurður Sveinn Snorrason, Sarah Elizabeth Steeleand Arnar Pálsson

Correspondence of morphological divergence across genotypes in response to diet follows evolutionary divergence of ecologically specialized morphs
Sarah E. Steele, Arnar Pálsson

DNA methylation patterns separate sympatric morphs of Arctic charr
Sébastien Matlosz, Benjamín Sigurgeirsson, Arnar Pálsson, Sigríður R. Franzdóttir, Zophonías O. Jónsson

New wine in old bottles: Geometric morphometric analysis revealed shape and allometric variation among sympatric Arctic charr morphs in Lake Thingvallavatn
Han Xiao, Arnar Pálsson, Sigurður S. Snorrason, Zophonías O. Jónsson

Transcriptional rewiring following compensatory selection of major mutations
Baldur Kristjánsson, Dagný Á. Rúnarsdóttir, Sudarshan Chari, Ian Dworkin, Arnar Pálsson

Dragging skeletons on wings: the effects of strong selection on transcriptional landscapes
Arnar Pálsson, Baldur Kristjánsson, Lea Jerman Plesec, Dagný Ásta Rúnarsdóttir

 

Posters

Food availability of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in rivers of Northeast Iceland Sum Yi Lai, Jón S. Ólafsson, Arnar Pálsson, James Rosindell, Guðni Guðbergsson, Ingi Rúnar Jónsson, Hlynur Bárðarson

Population genetics of stream populations of Arctic charr in North Iceland Sabrina Carli , Sabrina Carli, Irem Dogruoglu, Han Xiao, Marcos Lagunas, Dagny Ásta Rúnarsdóttir, Stefán Óli Steingrímsson, Sarah E. Steele, Arnar Pálsson

A region of ATG7 evolved in vertebrates and might account for a new function Valgerður Jakobína Hjaltalín, Margrét Helga Ögmundsdóttir, Arnar Pálsson

Contributions to the Icelandic Ecology Conference

Arnar Pálsson, 24/04/2021

Several members of our lab and students we help supervise contributed to the Icelandic Ecology Conference in April 2021.

 

Lasius niger ant dragging a larvae. Picture taken by Marco Mancini.

Marco Mancini - Unveiling the myrmecofauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Iceland. A survey of invasive ant species diversity and distribution

Arnar Pálsson - Unleashing of cryptic genetic variation by environmental challenges and genetic assimilation studied at level of gene expression

Sarah Steele - Correspondence of morphological divergence across genotypes in response to diet follows evolutionary divergence of ecologically specialized morphs

Sebastien Matlosz - DNA methylation in Arctic charr: Epigenetics to explain resource polymorphism.

Link to abstract book.

 

 

 

The Icelandic biology conference 2019

Arnar Pálsson, 22/01/2020

Late last year the lab took part in the Icelandic biology conference. The conference is biannual, and the largest aggregation of biological researchers in Iceland.

Our lab contributed several works to the meeting, and Im very proud of the students for their contributions.

Here is a list of the projects that they presented:

Can you save a mutant? Expressional rescue of 3 major wing defects in Drosophila melanogaster Baldur Kristjánsson, Dagný Á. Rúnarsdóttir, Sudarshan Chari, Ian Dworkin, Arnar Pálsson

Waddingtons landscapes explored: Expression changes associated with genetic assimilation of crossveinless phenotypes Dagný Ásta Rúnarsdóttir, Baldur Kristjánsson, Sarah Marzec, Ian Dworkin, Arnar Pálsson

Study of the genetic and developmental basis of phenotypic differences between sympatric Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) morphs Nahal Eskafi, Alexander Guðjónsson, Sylvain Moinard, Lea J. Plesec, Sigurður S. Snorrason, Zophonias O. Jonsson, Arnar Palsson, Sigríður Rut Franzdóttir

Differential expression of transcription factors between Arctic charr morphsLea Jerman Plesec, Alexander Guðjónsson, Sébastien Matlosz, Jóhannes Guðbrandsson, Arnar Pálsson, Sigríður Rut Franzdóttir, Zophonías O. Jónsson

Talks and posters at Evolution and core processes in gene expression

Arnar Pálsson, 23/05/2019

Baldur and I attended a meeting on evolution of gene expression arranged by David Arnosti, Shinhan Shiu and colleagues.

Evolution and Core Processes in Gene Expression
May 9–12, 2019
East Lansing, Mich.

Baldur and I ended up pooling our talks into one, as he only got a flash talk and presented a poster.

Thus we presented the data from the transcriptome analyses of Ian Dworkin and Sudarshan Charis wing defect compensation experiment.

BioRxiv preprint: Compensatory evolution via cryptic genetic variation: Distinct trajectories to phenotypic and fitness recovery. Sudarshan Chari, Christian Marier, Cody Porter, Emmalee Northrop, Alexandra Belinky, Ian Dworkin.

The titles of the abstracts Baldur and I submitted were Transcriptome changes after compensatory selection suppressed the phenotypic effects of two antagonizing developmental genes and Overcoming deleterious mutations at transcript level: Full length transcript expression in vg1 mutant flies restored by compensatory selection.

We are still working on the manuscripts.

The figure below is an example from the analyses of net and rhomboid compensatory evolution.

 

Session on bioethics at NeIC 2017

Arnar Pálsson, 09/05/2017

For the past 4 years I have served on the Nordic committee for bioethics. The committee operates under the umbrella of Nordforsk, and its mandate is to foster discussion and debate about bioethical questions and topics of relevance to the nordic countries.

Later this month will the committee host a workshop at the NeIC (Nordic electronic infrastructure collaboration) conference in Umea (May 29-June 1). The topics of the workshop are:

"New technologies enable the accumulation of large amounts of genetic data, biometric data, health records and socio-economic data about individuals. These data are increasingly being gathered and mined by companies for research and commercial purposes. The proper handling, security and use of such data is important to protect individuals while enabling the use of the data for the benefits of society, research or business. This workshop aims to investigate key ethical and societal issues concerning the large-scale collection, storage and sharing of data about individuals."

Full schedule of talks is available at the website of the conference.

Bioethics of Databanks and Datasharing

Organizing a big lecture

Arnar Pálsson, 04/07/2016

When in college I discovered the joy of throwing decent party. Of late this has taken more respectable form, in us taking part in organizing various meetings, workshops and lectures. This winter I participated in a project unlike most other I had previously. Organizing Jane Goodall's visit to Iceland, which culminated in her talk at the University theater on June 15th. There were more than 10 associations and institutes that put in hours, money and effort to bring Jane here, make arrangements, gather funds and handle publicity.

This was truly a delightful cooperation, and getting to meet the grandest of primatologists was a big honour. Jane took part in a master class for the graduates students at the University of Iceland, and few other international students here, and then gave a brilliant lecture to a full auditorium. Vigdis Finnbogadottir, the former president of Iceland introduced Jane.JaneSvid

It was a true honor to help out in this adventure, and to commemorate that I indulge by posting figure of Jane, Mary Lewis her right hand, and the organizers.

Attended an EMBL meeting on studies of evolution and ecology

Arnar Pálsson, 30/05/2016

I enjoyed the great fortune of attending a meeting on new model systems to link ecology and evolution, held May 8. - 11. in Heidelberg. D. Tautz and D. Weigel organized the meeting which brought together people studying evolutionary and ecological questions, interleaving genetic, organismal, microbial and biochemical data from many organisms. The taxanomic richness was quite intriguing, but also the range of questions and findings. We presented results from the Arctic charr studies, both the morphometric analyses and the transcriptome work, and got quite a lot of good feedback and suggestions. All in all it was a very inspiring meeting, with great atmosphere, talks, people and food. It did not spoil things that I got to visit my friend Natalia and see some great looking starfish.

Im looking forward to the next EMBL meeting on this topic.