Breaking New Ground, the University of Aberdeen inaugural lecture series which has been showcasing some of the world’s leading thinkers and pioneers appointed recently by the institution, features its penultimate talk tonight (Monday, November 20).

In his lecture Genetic Frontiers: Ecological and evolutionary aspects of gene identification, internationally renowned fish biologist Professor Rene Stet will describe the major impact that immune gene characterisation has had upon the fish farming industry.

The Professor of Zoology studies the genetics of the immune system of fish. His research examines why MHC genes can confer disease resistance or induce disease susceptibility in species such as rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon.

This area of study is crucial to the fish farming industry which has very few anti-viral vaccines.

Tonight Professor Stet will explain how not only has genetic research lead to the development of selective breeding strategies, but is instrumental to the development of genetic selection strategies to combat diseases that cannot currently be cured.

He will also argue that the identification of specific genes – namely the MHC genes – can help us to understand how fish can overcome diseases and are instrumental in selecting mating partners.

Around 150 people – University staff members and the public – will attend the lecture which begins at 6.30pm and takes place at Level 7 Conference Room, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill.

The final inaugural lecture in the series – Mathematics: Foreign language or first language? – will take place on Monday, November 27.