Independent consultant, quantitative genetics, plant breeding, crop science.

Chelmsford, UK.
Joined May 2010
Alex here, Mac's oldest son. Dad passed away peacefully 2 weeks ago today, surrounded by family. His funeral is being held on Tuesday 4th July at 2.30pm UK time and will be live streamed for anyone that would like to attend virtually. Details enclosed.
My Twitter activity - never high – will reduce to zero in the near future. I’ve got terminal prostate cancer which has just about run its course. I still follow things, though it has become much harder to concentrate. It’s been a gas anyway. So long, Mac / Ian
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My Twitter activity - never high – will reduce to zero in the near future. I’ve got terminal prostate cancer which has just about run its course. I still follow things, though it has become much harder to concentrate. It’s been a gas anyway. So long, Mac / Ian
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bbc.co.uk/news/science-envir… Ruth Kelly, Water UK chair, told the BBC: "…overspills of untreated sewage onto beaches and into rivers over the past few years. We're sorry that we didn't act sooner, but we get it." "We get it" was the corporate apology from Waystar in Succession.
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Ian Mackay retweeted
Mixed messages in St Ives this morning….
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Nice paper Nick. On good data, I feel.
NEW PAPER OUT! In @plantgenome Maintenance of UK bread baking quality: Trends in wheat quality traits over 50 years of breeding and potential for future application of genomic-assisted selection doi.org/10.1002/tpg2.20326 @KertonMC @StephanieSwarbr @AlisonRBentley @niabscience
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I am looking for a full time technician to help manage the field component of the breeding program. Pass along if you know of anyone interested. wsu.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en…
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Our BBSRC project is launched to integrate genomics and transcriptomics to empower feed efficiency in dairy population. Postdoc position will be opened soon so feel free to contact (bingjie.li@sruc.ac.uk) if interested. @BBSRC @SRUC @dadyo32 @leenybum sruc.ac.uk/all-news/breeding…
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Replying to @IanJMackay
Work looks interesting, but I would want to see 15N2 incorporation. Nitrogen "fixation" experiments are extremely prone to contamination with environmental ammonia. Some information in this review (I am a coauthor) nature.com/articles/s41570-0…
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Pls RT: Funded #PhD: BARley Industrial Training NEtwork (BARIToNE) CTP This programme will train the next generation of #barley scientists. 5 studentships available with a start date of Sept 2023 App Deadline: 19 May 2023 Info & to apply: buff.ly/3UcOmm5
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Here's the current table of contents (Part 4 not started yet). I hope to present a unified treatment of popgen data and theory, human history, and human trait genetics. I'll be open to sharing drafts with people soon (ping me if you have an interest).
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Sharing this in case it's useful: I find that students often have a hard time conceptualizing quantitative parameters in genomics and popgen Here's a cheat-sheet I put together for teaching. It's also part of a textbook I have been writing on human genetics (more on that below)
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This is significant milestone, as it is the first time in decades that the introduction of new legislation seeks to enable, rather than restrict, the use of advanced genetic technologies for agriculture and food production.
NEWS: NIAB welcomes Royal Assent being granted today to the Genetic Technology (#precisionbreeding) Bill - a new legislative framework set to accelerate the development of higher-yielding, more nutritious & climate-resilient crops in England niab.com/news-views/news/new…
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Commercial development of gene-edited food now legal in England bbc.in/3nebggB
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NEW! 🌿🧬Multi-trait ensemble genomic prediction and simulations of recurrent selection for long-term genetic gains in #wheat @nickfradgley @niabgroup @plantsci @AlisonRBentley @breederphil @IanJMackay @mscott0106 @RichardMott7 @james_f_cockram bit.ly/42rjoKO
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Ian Mackay retweeted
‼️#undergraduate #research opportunities in the Principal's Research Group @SRUC @IanJMackay: 1. Impacts of speed breeding on barley epigenomics and shovelomics 2. Microbe-dependent heterosis in barley 3. Vertical farming with speed hydroponics eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/availab… RT pls :)
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A chance to do some interesting research with us in the Principal’s research group @SRUCPrincipal and to spend the summer in Edinburgh.
‼️#undergraduate #research opportunities in the Principal's Research Group @SRUC @IanJMackay: 1. Impacts of speed breeding on barley epigenomics and shovelomics 2. Microbe-dependent heterosis in barley 3. Vertical farming with speed hydroponics eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/availab… RT pls :)
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Replying to @Ajwhall
M&S sell/sold a bread made from the UK elite wheat Soissons, which is a founder of the NIAB MAGIC population, and that our BBSRC wheat pan-genome project sequenced. @james_f_cockram @NHM_Science
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Great opportunity
Exciting opportunity: join us as a core scientist (open-end position) in the @HighlanderLab at @roslininstitute. While our university admin is yet to process the post documentation, we are open to inquires and expressions of interest.
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