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Peter Dearden

@peterkdearden.bsky.social

190 followers 190 following 34 posts

Geneticist, evolutionary biologist, evolution and development. Working mainly on insects, but also big green budgies and snails. Co Director of Genomics Aotearoa, Deputy Director of Bioprotection Aotearoa. HOD Biochemistry, University of Otago.

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Reposted by Peter Dearden

Carmelo Ferrai @carmeloferrai.bsky.social · 1d

Nobel Laureate Professor Sir John Gurdon dies aged 92 cam.ac.uk/research/news/…

Very sad news. A remarkable scientist! He will be always with us.🌻www.cam.ac.uk/research/new...92

Nobel Laureate Professor Sir John Gurdon dies aged 92

It is with great sadness that the University shares the news of the death of Professor Sir John Gurdon, founder of the Gurdon Institute.

www.cam.ac.uk

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Reposted by Peter Dearden

Otago Biochemistry @otagobiochemist.bsky.social · 24d

We're looking for a new lecturer, here at the Department of Biochemistry in Dunedin, New Zealand. "Applications are invited in all areas of biochemistry, molecular genetics, and bioinformatics." otago.taleo.net/careersectio...

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Reposted by Peter Dearden

Paul Gardner @ppgardne.bsky.social · 24d

Are you looking for a lectureship in biochemistry, molecular genetics, or bioinformatics? Come and enjoy the greatest place for kayak fishing and a fun research+teaching career.

*there are other fun things to do here too.

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Peter Dearden @peterkdearden.bsky.social · 24d

My Department has a permanent, full-time, resarch and teaching job for someone awesome. details here.... otago.taleo.net/careersectio...

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Reposted by Peter Dearden

bioprotection.bsky.social @bioprotection.bsky.social · Aug 28

Ned the snail got a dating campaign 🐌💔 … but he’s not even from Aotearoa.

Meanwhile our endangered taonga the Powelliphanta augusta snail are in containers fighting for survival.

From fridge to freedom — a story on how we value biodiversity, by @whenua.bsky.social + @peterkdearden.bsky.social

Fridge to Freedom | Bioprotection Aotearoa

You may have recently read about the Department of Conservation spending around $100,000 per year for the past 4 years to house and manage snails. Now, these aren’t just any...

bioprotection.org.nz

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Peter Dearden @peterkdearden.bsky.social · Aug 21

Hi folks. @whenua.bsky.social and I wrote a thing about my favourite snails. bioprotection.org.nz/fridge-to-fr...

Fridge to Freedom | Bioprotection Aotearoa

You may have recently read about the Department of Conservation spending around $100,000 per year for the past 4 years to house and manage snails. Now, these aren’t just any...

bioprotection.org.nz

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Peter Dearden @peterkdearden.bsky.social · Aug 19

It’s air pollution. We would be screaming if it were outputs from a factory

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Reposted by Peter Dearden

Nick Young @nickofnz.bsky.social · Aug 10

Pulled lifeless from a commercial fishing net off the Otago coast, the adult female yellow-eyed penguin had drowned in a silent, unseen death.

She was the last known breeding-age female Hoiho from the Sandfly Bay colony.

#NZOverFishing

She was the last: Penguin starvation crisis sparks call for emergency fishing ban

The fate of the hoiho - among the world’s rarest penguin species - rests with two ministers.

www.thepost.co.nz

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Peter Dearden @peterkdearden.bsky.social · Jul 23

@dshb-antibodies.bsky.social Hi folks- I can't get to your website to order more of your delicious antibodies- what's up?

Reposted by Peter Dearden

bioprotection.bsky.social @bioprotection.bsky.social · Jul 23

Recognised as a changemaker, our Director, Professor Amanda Black opens a brand-new series from the Nature podcast team — and how science, Indigenous knowledge, and leadership can shape the future of our ecosystems.

🎧 Listen now: zurl.co/aV3mu

The Māori values that make good sense in science

The Indigenous beliefs underpinning soil chemist Amanda Black's approach could deliver a more inclusive research culture, she says. The Indigenous beliefs underpinning soil chemist Amanda Black's approach could deliver a more inclusive research culture, she says.

www.nature.com

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Peter Dearden @peterkdearden.bsky.social · Jul 20

South Dunedin!

Peter Dearden @peterkdearden.bsky.social · Jul 19

Evening all

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Peter Dearden @peterkdearden.bsky.social · Jul 11

Peter Dearden @peterkdearden.bsky.social · Jul 9

To rewrite the Rolling Stone headline. ‘First they didn’t resurrect the dire wolf, now they ain’t going to do the Moa’

Reposted by Peter Dearden

Russell Brown @publicaddress.bsky.social · Jul 9

The Science Media Centre has gathered several expert reactions to the "de-extinct the moa" publicity announcement. Each is withering in a different way. www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2025/07/09/m...

Moa "de-extinction" plans announced - Expert Reaction

An overseas company has announced plans to "bring back" the South Island giant moa. Colossal Biosciences, working with Ngāi Tahu Research Centre and Canterbury Museum, says it expects to "resurrect" t...

www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz

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Reposted by Peter Dearden

bioprotection.bsky.social @bioprotection.bsky.social · Jul 8

The moa resurrected? We have written about this before - what ecosystems are we loosing now, and who decides what's worth saving?

bioprotection.org.nz/de-extinctio...

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Reposted by Peter Dearden

Genetics Society of AustralAsia @geneticsaus.bsky.social · Jul 4

Just three more sleeps until #GSA2025 kicks off in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland!

Bring your love of science, your curiosity, and maybe a rain jacket - just in case 🌧️🧬

We can't wait to see you there!

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Reposted by Peter Dearden

Development @dev-journal.bsky.social · Jun 20

Polyphenisms: a developmental perspective

In this Review, Peter Dearden @peterkdearden.bsky.social describes mechanisms that establish polyphenisms, current gaps in our understanding and their importance to developmental biology.

journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...

Schematic of a proposed general scheme for polyphenisms.

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Peter Dearden @peterkdearden.bsky.social · Jun 15

Do you have his number?

Peter Dearden @peterkdearden.bsky.social · Jun 15

That’s them!

Peter Dearden @peterkdearden.bsky.social · Jun 15

Exactly. And I think solid energy did for a bit before they went bust. Then we picked up the bill.

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Peter Dearden @peterkdearden.bsky.social · Jun 15

So you dig a hole, sell the contents, and then go bust to avoid the consequences of your hole. Shouldn’t the tax payers alliance be complaining about the obvious transfer of tax payer money from the state to private pockets?

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Peter Dearden @peterkdearden.bsky.social · Jun 15

If you don’t want to spend millions of dollars managing the last of a species- don’t destroy their habitat for a quick buck

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Peter Dearden @peterkdearden.bsky.social · Jun 15

They are also beautiful

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Peter Dearden @peterkdearden.bsky.social · Jun 15

Yup. That’s what they did here in New Zealand. And we are still suffering from their cookie cutter idiocy