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.-
Functional inhibition of deep brain non-visual opsins facilitates acute long day induction of reproductive recrudescence in male Japanese quail : Deep brain photoreceptors in birds
In:
Hormones and Behavior, vol. 148
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105298
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Genetics of tibia bone properties of crossbred commercial laying hens in different housing systems
(29 pages)
In:
G3: Genes | Genomes | Genetics, pp. 1-29
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkac302
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Development of an in vivo radiographic method with potential for use in improving bone quality and the welfare of laying hens through genetic selection
(11 pages)
In:
British Poultry Science, pp. 1-11
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2022.2119835
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Identification of the Core Promoter and Variants Regulating Chicken CCKAR Expression
(11 pages)
In:
Genes, vol. 13, pp. 1-11
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13061083
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
The expression of the gastrin/cholecystokinin (GAST/CCK) family and their receptors (CCKAR/CCKBR) in the chicken changes in response to quantitative restriction and reveals a functional role of CCK in the crop
In:
General And Comparative Endocrinology, vol. 321-322
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114024
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
The effects of feed restriction, time of day and time since feeding on behavioral and physiological indicators of hunger in broiler breeder hens:
In:
Poultry Science, vol. 101
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2022.101838
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Properties, genetics and innate immune function of the cuticle in egg-laying species
In:
Frontiers in Immunology, vol. 13
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.838525
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Review article (Published) -
Determining the variation in premaxillary and dentary bone morphology that may underlie beak shape between two pure layer lines
In:
Poultry Science
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2021.101500
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
The Saga of Just One QTL; From Laying Hen Bone Strength to One Carbon Metabolism
(1 page)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab235.055
Research output: Contribution to Conference › Abstract (Published) -
Parental methyl-enhanced diet and in ovo corticosterone affect first generation Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) development, behaviour and stress response.
In:
Scientific Reports
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99812-w
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
A genome-wide association analysis for body weight at 35 days measured on 137,343 broiler chickens
In:
Genetics Selection Evolution, vol. 53, pp. 70
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12711-021-00663-w
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
What are the challenges facing the table egg industry in the next decades and what can be done to address them?
In:
Animal
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2021.100282
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Review article (E-pub ahead of print)