The Onderstepoort Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Onderstepoort was formerly known as the Blood Typing Laboratory and changed to DNA typing in 2001. The laboratory is a service-driven and self-funding unit and is run on current and general business principles. It fulfils various roles including an academic support role for postgraduate students interested in applied veterinary genetics, research of genetic diseases in various animals and development of tests and protocols that can be applied in the service division.
The service division consists mainly of a DNA profiling and parentage testing component, forensic DNA testing in animals, testing of specific genetic diseases and traits in animals, genotyping for population analysis and some pathogen testing of equines via the laboratories association with the Equine Research Centre.
The Vision and Mission of the OPVGL:
To provide a DNA typing service that exceeds the requirements of the customer in terms of efficiency and quality, based on veterinary principles and considering the animal and its environment holistically.
To maintain an annual growth rate in terms of services rendered and technical competency that reflects the international developments in the field of veterinary genomic and diagnostic genetics.
To support and promote the welfare and wellbeing of animals by providing a forensic testing service and by research in the area of genetic disease, pathogen detection and population analysis.
To provide an environment in which staff and selected students can develop and use various skills to contribute to the overall objectives of the laboratory and promote the University of Pretoria locally and internationally in the field of applied veterinary genetics .
To contribute to the training of veterinarians in the rapidly expanding science of molecular genetics and provide an up-to-date DNA testing service to the Veterinary Faculty and practicing veterinarians.
FABI Director elected as next President of IUFRO - 19/06/2013
Prof Mike Wingfield, the Director of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) in the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, was elected early in June 2013 to serve as the next President of the International Union of Forestry Research Organisations (IUFRO).
He is the first ever African to be elected to this prestigious position, which has a five-year term running from October 2014 to 2019.
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Faculty of Humanities’ Mandela Day project: Prof De la Rey donates books - 19/06/2013
During a ceremony held on 4 June 2013, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Cheryl de la Rey, donated four books to the Faculty of Humanities as a contribution to their Mandela Day project.
The books she donated were her favourite books during her childhood. She congratulated the Faculty for initiating such a worthy project that would continue to encourage children to read even long after the Mandela Day celebrations have ended. She emphasised the importance of reading as a window to the world and quoted Mr Nelson Mandela, who once remarked that ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’.
[Read More]
New Chair in Department of Mining Engineering to help save lives - 18/06/2013
Research on a safer working environment in the hard-rock mining industry will henceforth be a very specific focus area at the University of Pretoria. This is the result of a donation of R4.7 million over 3 years by Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (Harmony) to UP in order to establish a Chair in Rock Engineering and Numerical Modelling in the mining industry. The Harmony chair will be housed in the Department of Mining Engineering of the University’s Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology.
[Read More]
TuksRugby reigns supreme in 2013 Carlton League - 16/06/2013
On 15 June, TuksRugby proved their supremacy in Blue Bulls club rugby by claiming all five championship titles on offer in the 2013 Carlton League.
The top prize at stake was the coveted Carlton Cup, the piece of silverware that eluded UP-Tuks 1 last year when they went down 23–27 to Police in the final.
[Read More]
New Poultry Disease Management Agency (PDMA) and UP Research Poultry Chair launched in the Faculty of Veterinary Science - 13/06/2013
The new PDMA-UP Poultry Research Chair in the Faculty of Veterinary Science was recently launched by the Faculty and the South African Poultry Association (SAPA). This exciting collaborative partnership aims among other things, at conducting research on poultry diseases that have an impact on our economy.
The first incumbent of this Chair, Prof Celia Abolnik, who was recently appointed by the Production Animal Studies Department, will be conducting research projects in conjunction with the Poultry Disease Management Agency (PDMA), the government as well as other relevant stakeholders.
[Read More]
UP crosses borders with tourism - 13/06/2013
The Faculty of Humanities of the University of Pretoria was recently represented by two academic staff members at the Atlas Africa conference in Kigali, Rwanda. Mr Richard Wyllie (Department of Historical and Heritage Studies) and Professor Chris Boonzaaier (Department of Anthropology and Archaeology) both presented papers.
For the first time in its history, the eighth bi-annual event was hosted by the Rwanda Tourism University College (RTUC) from 3 to 5 June 2013.
[Read More]
Theatre highlights: Chasing and As Night Falls - 11/06/2013
There are performances of the shows Chasing (based on the life of Ingrid Jonker) and As Night Falls (based on the life of Helen Martins) at the Masker Theatre at the University of Pretoria.
These shows are collaborations between the Drama Department and Matchbox Theatre Collective and both shows are choreographed by Nicola Haskins. Make sure you don't miss these shows before they head to perform at Smithfield and at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. As Night falls won a Standard Bank Ovation Award in 2011.
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The Vision and Mission of the OPVGL:.jpg)
Prof Mike Wingfield, the Director of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) in the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, was elected early in June 2013 to serve as the next President of the International Union of Forestry Research Organisations (IUFRO).
He is the first ever African to be elected to this prestigious position, which has a five-year term running from October 2014 to 2019.
.jpg)
During a ceremony held on 4 June 2013, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Cheryl de la Rey, donated four books to the Faculty of Humanities as a contribution to their Mandela Day project.
The books she donated were her favourite books during her childhood. She congratulated the Faculty for initiating such a worthy project that would continue to encourage children to read even long after the Mandela Day celebrations have ended. She emphasised the importance of reading as a window to the world and quoted Mr Nelson Mandela, who once remarked that ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’.
.jpg)
Research on a safer working environment in the hard-rock mining industry will henceforth be a very specific focus area at the University of Pretoria. This is the result of a donation of R4.7 million over 3 years by Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (Harmony) to UP in order to establish a Chair in Rock Engineering and Numerical Modelling in the mining industry. The Harmony chair will be housed in the Department of Mining Engineering of the University’s Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology.
On 15 June, TuksRugby proved their supremacy in Blue Bulls club rugby by claiming all five championship titles on offer in the 2013 Carlton League.
The top prize at stake was the coveted Carlton Cup, the piece of silverware that eluded UP-Tuks 1 last year when they went down 23–27 to Police in the final.
.jpg)
The new PDMA-UP Poultry Research Chair in the Faculty of Veterinary Science was recently launched by the Faculty and the South African Poultry Association (SAPA). This exciting collaborative partnership aims among other things, at conducting research on poultry diseases that have an impact on our economy.
The first incumbent of this Chair, Prof Celia Abolnik, who was recently appointed by the Production Animal Studies Department, will be conducting research projects in conjunction with the Poultry Disease Management Agency (PDMA), the government as well as other relevant stakeholders.
Last edited by: Dawie Roux