Never mind the fries - want a lapdance with that ?

Even on holiday, the day job shines. Here in Thailand, they’re straight to the point. Or hole, as it turns out

A new approach to control the Varroa parasite in honey bee colonies.
Gene silencing has strong potential as a safe, highly targeted method for controlling a wide range of pests. www.farmersweekly.co.nz/news/biopest...

Biopesticide opens new front against varroa

NZ and US scientists develop gene-silencing tech to render mite temporarily sterile.

farmersweekly.co.nz

What a quandary ! Ready to put the qPCR reactions into the machine in the next room, but *this* room has the operatic section of Bohemian Rhapsody playing . . and we all know what comes next . . .

Freddie Mercury Wayne’s World Car Scene

ALT: Freddie Mercury Wayne’s World Car Scene

static.klipy.com

Reminds me I must check this hive for varroa levels. And yes, we also test our lab hive with the Foster Method

@dnaturediagnostics.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The bees at the dnature lab are also excited about World Bee Day (May 20th). Here, much of our world *is* bee-related. Bee health, varroa and the Foster Method for AFB, a disease that costs NZ beekeepers millions each year

The great thing about this work is Andrew’s use of ‘We’ve’. As in, the DOC rangers are doing the testing themselves as and when needed. Great effort team 👏🏻 👏🏻

Andrew Digby@digs.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Our new rapid-sexing method for #kakapo and #takahē has been transformative. We've been sexing kākāpō chicks in the field on the day they hatch, enabling more effective management. Big thanks to @dnature.bsky.social @dnaturediagnostics.bsky.social www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-r...

No surprise as Australia confirms their multi-resistant varroa population as a new incursion.

Stunning day in Dunedin today

Thanks for the invitation by the Northern Tablelands Beekeeping club in Aus - good to talk with you about the Foster method for AFB as well as our rapid DNA method for pyrethroid and amitraz resistance #pyrethroid #varroa

NZ Honey bee Research symposium for 2026 ? Share your (few) thoughts: mailchi.mp/799bfc859633...

If you're a fan of real-time PCR / qPCR and you've been around it a long time (yes to both) then you might also be interested in this 'dual memoir' by Russ Higuchi (inventor of qPCR) and Lincoln McBride (led the development of the instrument below - the first commercial real-time instrument)

John Mackay@dnature.bsky.social · 5mo ago

The team here are pleased to see the publication of our method to detect (and differentiate) pyrethroid resistance mutations (L925) in varroa mites, via snapback high resolution melting - just as the resistance appears in Australia rdcu.be/e76OW

Finding more old files - my original PCR protocol for the lab. Complete with oil overlay and greasing the tubes. . .

Time to throw out old papers and files. Used to love the methds-reagnts newsgroup back in the day. And the tech tips online. Even a protocol here from @profgemmell.bsky.social I’ve just noticed !

Oh good, my lift has arrived . .

Not so much as taking the piss . . . more, publishing it. Or both

Elisabeth Bik@elisabethbik.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Thousands of scientists inflate their CVs with self-published studies that cost millions of dollars of public money 1 in 8 'special issues' is filled with articles written by the editor, particularly at the publisher MDPI @manuelansede.bsky.social english.elpais.com/science-tech...

Calling all #eDNA enthusiasts! 🧬📸 Our #eDNAinFocus Photo Competition is open until the end of January. Share your best field or lab shots using the hashtag #eDNAinFocus to enter. Thanks to the support of @peerj.bsky.social the winner will take home an awesome prize! #SeDNAs #eDNA #Science

Meanwhile, down in Central Otago . . .

My god - @dhlsupplychain.bsky.social have stunning levels of incompetence as an organisation. Are there any decent courier options in New Zealand these days??

A tough couple of days in Blenheim . . .

Timely bit on the radio returning from excellent NZ Micro conference - listening to the careful views on gene drives from @peterkdearden.bsky.social www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

Find out why the GM debate isn't just about food or labels

Recently on the show we've been talking a bit about Genetic Modification, and the Gene Technology bill currently in front of Parliament. So far, we've mostly focused on food. The pros, cons and issues...

rnz.co.nz

Congrats to @drhhnz.bsky.social and team in the recent @marsdenfund.bsky.social. New surprises in those phage sequences Heather ??

Hoarding stuff? Not me! I mean, I *might* need these COVID oligos again. Del69/70 assay anyone? L452R ?

A great team of humans to work with . . . and we know they’re human eh Andrew @digs.bsky.social ?

@dnaturediagnostics.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Preparing for a huge Kākāpo breeding season. Here we're teaching the fantastic DOC team on how to use our fast in-field PCR test to sex Kākāpo chicks. The team have swabbed themselves and are learning how to extract the DNA & run the PCR before then applying these principles to Kākāpō chicks.

An amazing conference, my collection of random thoughts on the people met and talks heard at @apimondia.bsky.social 2025 www.linkedin.com/pulse/though...

Thoughts on Apimondia 2025

“No, no, not that one . .

linkedin.com

Flight this morning is full of teachers and educators. Am sure the hostess wants to tell them to sit down and be quiet.

Very cool to see a 40-foot-high Keith Haring mural in the wild (Amsterdam). Only recently restored a few years ago after having been covered up for 30 years

Trying amazing honeys here at @apimondia.bsky.social ! Thanks to the Swedish beekeeper who rocked up to our stand with his lactic acid bacteria fermented honey.