Episode 12 – Research Roundup: Bacteria in Chicken Eggs, Antioxidants and Lifespan, and Maternal Effects on Growth in Salmon

In this Research Roundup episode we summarise three recent research papers published by Institute members. First we discuss Maureen Bain’s recent work examining the extent to which bacteria may pass through the shells of the chicken eggs we use for food. We then chat about Colin Selman’s recent paper showing that dietary antioxidant supplements may actually decrease lifespan in some animal populations. We then finish up by reviewing Tim Burton’s research examining maternal effects on early growth trajectories in Atlantic salmon.

We also touch on whether or not the titles of academic papers have become too “spoilerific”, patent a foolproof device for measuring E. coli levels in grocery store eggs, and propose that living with your parents until your middle age might actually be an optimal life-history strategy.

Episode 12 – Research Roundup: Bacteria in Chicken Eggs, Antioxidants and Lifespan, and Maternal Effects on Growth in Salmon

Papers Discussed:

MM Bain, K McDade, R Burchmore, A Law, PW Wilson, M Schmutz, R Preisinger, IC Dunn. 2013. Enhancing the egg’s natural defence against bacterial penetration by increasing cuticle deposition. Animal Genetics. 44:661-668

C Selman, JS McLaren, AR Collins, GG Duthie, JR Speakman. 2013.  Deleterious consequences of antioxidant supplementation on lifespan in a wild-derived mammal. Biology letters 9 (4)

Tim Burton, S. McKelvey, D. C. Stewart, J. D. Armstrong, and N. B. Metcalfe 2013. Early maternal experience shapes offspring performance in the wild. Ecology 94:618–626. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/12-0462.1

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