Dr Ian Dunn
Professor

Contact details
Address
- Street
-
The Roslin Institute
Easter Bush Campus
Midlothian - City
- Post code
Availability
Willingness to take Ph.D. students: No, but for specific projects I would be willing to discuss.
Research summary
Using the genetics and physiology of avian reproduction allows us to develop strategies utilising traditional or marker assisted selection to tackle problems as diverse as osteoporosis in laying hens, growth and reproduction in meat type birds, antimicrobial activity of egg white and shell quality in laying hens.
Current research interests
Our Group's interests lie in avian biology, in particular avian reproduction and growth and its consequences. This included a long term interest in how food, light and behaviour control reproduction and how the oviduct contributes to the formation of eggs. It has developed to include the relationship between long periods of reproductive activity and osteoporosis and the use of egg peptides as antimicrobials as well as aspects of satiety. Our work takes advantage of advances in genetics and genomics along with physiology to understand avian reproduction and growth. The understanding of the genetics and physiology of avian reproduction and growth allows us to develop strategies utilising traditional or marker assisted selection to tackle problems as diverse as osteoporosis in laying hens, polyfollicular ovaries in broiler breeders and antimicrobial activity of egg white and shell quality in laying hens. We are also increasing our understanding the control of food intake in birds. These traits all have socio-economic importance to the poultry industry. To do this we interact closely with many companies and groups in the institute and across Europe.-
Transcriptome analysis of the uterus of hens laying eggs differing in cuticle deposition
In:
BMC Genomics
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-020-06882-7
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Explanations for keel bone fractures in laying hens: Are there explanations in addition to elevated egg production?
In:
Poultry Science
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2020.05.035
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
An eQTL in the cystathionine beta synthase gene is linked to osteoporosis in laying hens
In:
Genetics Selection Evolution
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12711-020-00532-y
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Short tandem repeats and methylation in the promoter region affect expression of cystathionine beta-synthase gene in the laying hen
In:
Gene, vol. 710
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2019.05.049
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Neuroendocrine Regulation of Seasonal Reproduction
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264086.013.236
Research output: › Chapter (peer-reviewed) (Published) -
Genetic variation and potential for genetic improvement of cuticle deposition on chicken eggs
In:
Genetics Selection Evolution
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12711-019-0467-5
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Extra-retinal regulation of avian reproduction: A role for VA-opsin and neuropsin
Research output: Contribution to Conference › Abstract (Unpublished) -
A comparative perspective on extra-retinal photoreception
In:
Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 30, pp. 39-53
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2018.10.005
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Cuticle deposition improves the biosecurity of eggs through the laying cycle and can be measured on hatching eggs without compromising embryonic development
In:
Poultry Science
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pey528
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Paul Hocking
In:
British Poultry Science, pp. 1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2018.1510568
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Comment/debate (E-pub ahead of print) -
Genome-wide association study for bone strength in laying hens
In:
Journal of Animal Science, vol. 96, pp. 2525-2535
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/sky157
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Sex differences in basal hypothalamic anorectic and orexigenic gene expression and the effect of quantitative and qualitative food restriction
In:
Biology of Sex Differences, vol. 9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13293-018-0178-6
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published)