Could your hair colour determine your child’s sex?

In Gouldian finches the answer is yes-according to an Australian paper published in the journal Science today. The paper challenges our view of sex determination in animals.

The full media release is below. The lead author Sarah Pryke, is a L’Oréal Australia For Women in Science Fellow and ARC Fellow at Macquarie University. She’s good talent.

Also,

• BioMelbourne Network says Kim Carr’s new fund will not deliver the necessary funds that the biotech sector desperately needs.
• In the wake of the Beagle – Science in the southern oceans from the age of Darwin opens in Sydney
• Symposium explores the roles of Darwin’s contemporaries Hooker and Huxley
• 100 Hours of Astronomy – millions of people to participate in star parties
• Man’s first steps on the moon: Plan for moon madness in July to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon. There will be a host of international speakers in Australia. [continue reading…]

Darwin celebrations continue with thought-provoking talks and exhibitions across the country.

In this bulletin we highlight 15 evolution events taking place in March and April. Some of them are finishing soon, including the Darwin exhibition at the National Museum of Australia, Canberra, so don’t delay if you want to see them.

Charles Darwin – voyages and ideas that shook the world opens today at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney. [continue reading…]

Here’s some more science stories for this week and next.

For a short time only, you can see Darwin’s flea at the Macleay Museum in Sydney. And you can meet the supercrocodilians in Darwin.  [continue reading…]

By Iain McCalman: How four voyagers to Australasia won the battle for evolution and changed the world.

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By Iain McCalman: How four voyagers to Australasia won the battle for evolution and changed the world.

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After a big celebration of Charles Darwin’s 200^th birthday last week, evolution activities continue this week and through the year. [continue reading…]

After a big celebration of Charles Darwin’s 200^th birthday last week, evolution activities continue this week and through the year. [continue reading…]

Celebrations recognise the impact of Darwin’s theory of evolution on society today

Today is the 200^th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth, and birthday celebrations are taking place across Australia. [continue reading…]

• Tasmania remarkable but I do not like Sydney
• Eat your way through 4 billion years of evolution
• Darwin parties across Australia
• Evolution speakers

Charles Darwin’s 200^th birthday is tomorrow, Thursday 12 February.  We’ve issued a release on his views of Australia.

Darwin didn’t like Sydney – more on that below – but his great great grandson Chris Darwin lives in Sydney and will be in Melbourne eating his way through the evolutionary tree – from the primordial ocean soup to dinosaur drumettes at the birthday party on Thursday evening. Chris is happy to talk about his ancestor.

Also for his birthday: [continue reading…]