Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon

Contact Details

Phone
+64 3 479 7413
Email
neil.gemmell@otago.ac.nz
Position
Professor
Department
Department of Anatomy
Qualifications
BSc(Hons) PhD
Research summary
Evolutionary genetics and genomics, molecular ecology, conservation biology

Research

Professor Gemmell holds the Chair for AgResearch Centre for Reproduction and Genomics

Professor Gemmell's research blends ecology, population, conservation and evolutionary biology with recent technological spin-offs from the various genome projects. A recurring theme in his research is that of reproduction, with past and current projects spanning mating systems and mate choice, sperm-egg interactions, sperm function, sex determination, sex allocation, and inter-sexual genomic conflict. Professor Gemmell also has interests in several congruent fields of research, particularly the evolution of the mitochondrial genome, the evolution of microsatellite DNA, the evolution of sex determining mechanisms and the processes that lead to speciation.

Research interests:

  • Analysis of mating systems
  • The implications of the asymmetric fitness effects of mtDNA mutations
  • The evolution of microsatellites

Publications

Urban, L., Santure, A. W., Uddstrom, L., Digby, A., Vercoe, D., Eason, D., … Kākāpō Recovery Team, including Thompson, T., Weinzweig, N., Whittaker, M., and also Wylie, M. J., … Le Lec, M. F., Guhlin, J., … Alexander, A., Fuentes-Cross, P., Dearden, P. K., Gemmell, N. J., Azeem, F., Weyland, M., Schwefel, H. G. L., … Morales, H. E. (2024). The genetic basis of the kākāpō structural color polymorphism suggests balancing selection by an extinct apex predator. PLoS Biology, 22(9), e3002755. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002755 Journal - Research Other

Kamstra, K., van der Burg, C., Quertermous, H. M., Muncaster, S., Todd, E. V., Jasoni, C. L., … Gemmell, N. J. (2024). Neuroendocrine regulation in sex-changing teleost fishes. In D. O. Norris & K. H. Lopez (Eds.), Hormones and reproduction of vertebrates (Vol. 1). (2nd ed.) (pp. 195-219). London, UK: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-443-16009-7.00013-X Chapter in Book - Research

Jeunen, G.-J., Mills, S., Lamare, M., Duffy, G. A., Knapp, M., Stanton, J.-A. L., … Treece, J., Ferreira, S., Durán-Vinet, B., Zavodna, M., & Gemmell, N. J. (2024). Unlocking Antarctic molecular time-capsules: Recovering historical environmental DNA from museum-preserved sponges. Molecular Ecology Resources. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.14001 Journal - Research Article

Jeunen, G.-J., Mills, S., Mariani, S., Treece, J., Ferreira, S., Stanton, J.-A. L., Durán-Vinet, B., Duffy, G. A., Gemmell, N. J., & Lamare, M. (2024). Streamlining large-scale oceanic biomonitoring using passive eDNA samplers integrated into vessel's continuous pump underway seawater systems. Science of the Total Environment, 946, 174354. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174354 Journal - Research Article

Pearman, W. S., Duffy, G. A., Gemmell, N. J., Morales, S. E., & Fraser, C. I. (2024). Long-distance movement dynamics shape host microbiome richness and turnover. FEMS Microbiology Ecology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/femsec/fiae089 Journal - Research Article

Back to top