Stuart A’Hara, BSc, MSc, PhD

 

Research Scientist, Ecology Division

Email: stuart.a’hara@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Tel: +44 (0)131 445 2176
Tel direct: +44 (0)131 445 6919
Fax: +44 (0)131 445 5124

Address:
Forest Research
Northern Research Station
Roslin
Midlothian EH25 9SY
UK

Stuart joined Forest Research in 2003, where he specialises in applying DNA based techniques to tree breeding and ecological issues. He studied Zoology at Aberdeen University (1989-93), Biotechnology at the University of Abertay (1993-94) and received his PhD from Edinburgh University (1994-1998) for his thesis on the Population Structure of Linyphiid Spiders. Prior to joining FR, Stuart worked as a postdoctoral scientist at the Roslin Institute and at the Scottish Agricultural College.

Current role

Research Scientist, Ecology Division

Responsibilities include management of the Molecular Biology Laboratory.

Current programmes

Genetic Conservation

• Monitoring presence of bird and mammal species using molecular markers designed for use with faecal samples.
• Development and application of microsatellite DNA markers in Twinflower (Linnaea borealis) and squirrel.
• Supporting Forest Reproductive Material (FRM) regulations for black poplar by identification of clones used in propagation.
• Development of real-time PCR diagnostic test for Horse Chestnut bleeding canker.

Selection and testing of conifers
Responsible for development of Marker Assisted Selection program in Sitka spruce, including the generation of a Sitka genetic linkage map and QTL discovery for commercial traits of interest.

NovelTree EU project (2008-2012). An EU collaborative project
This project will mobilise and integrate European scientific research and resources on forest tree genetics to i) develop genomic tools for plant breeding, efficient gene isolation, and optimised exploitation of genetic resources and ii) demonstrate novel/improved methods to breed trees with improved quality and quantity parameters.

Affiliations

• Forest Research representative in EUFROGEN conifer genetics group
• Forest Research representative at Genome Canada consortium meetings

Research areas

• Marker assisted selection in Sitka spruce
• Species identification using molecular markers
• Clone identification
• Population genetics

Main recent publications

A’Hara, S., Hancock, M., Piertney S. B. and Cottrell J.E. (2008). The development of a real-time PCR assay to distinguish droppings of black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) from those of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus). Submitted to Wildlife Biology June ’08.

Green, S., Laue, B., Gunnar-Fossdal, C., A’Hara, and S., Cottrell, J. (2008). Quantitative real-time PCR detection of Pseudomonas syringae pv. aesculi in Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) Submitted to Pathology June ’08.

A'Hara, S.W. and Cottrell, J.E (2007). Characterization of a suite of 40 EST-derived microsatellite markers for use in Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr). Slivae Genetica.56 (3-4) p. 138-141

Lee, S.J. and A'Hara, S. (2006). Marker Aided Selection in Sitka. Forestry and British Timber: 35(1), January 2006, 14-16.

Keary, K., A'Hara, S., Whitaker, H. and Cottrell, J. (2005). Assessment of genetic variation in black poplar in Ireland using microsatellites. Irish Forestry: 62, 6-18.

A’Hara, S. and Cottrell, J.E. (2004). A set of microsatellite markers for use in Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) developed from Picea glauca EST sequences. Molecular Ecology Notes 4(4), 659-663.

Schmid, M., Nandra, I., Guttenbach, M., Steinlein, C., Hoehn, H., Schartl, M., Haaf, T., Weigend, S., Fries, R., Buerstedde, J.M., Wimmers, K., Burt, D.W., Smith, J., A’Hara, S. et al. (2000). First report on chicken genes and chromosomes 2000. Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics 90 (3-4) 169-218.

A’Hara, S., Harling, R. and McKinlay, R. (2000). Application of molecular marker technology in practise: population structure in the spiders Lepthyphantes tenuis and Enoplognatha ovata. Proceedings of the Workshop on Molecular Marker Techniques, CIPM, Institut Pertanian Bogor, Indonesia.

A’Hara, S. and Burt, D. (1999). SNPs in Poultry. Proceedings of the Second International Meeting on Single Nucleotide Polymorphism and Complex Geneome Analysis.

A’Hara, S., Harling, R. and McKinlay, R. (1998). RAPD profiling of spider (Aranea) DNA. Journal of Arachnology, 26, 397-400.

Fenton, B., Malloch, G., Jones, A.T., Armine, J.W., Gordon, S.C., A’Hara, S., McGavin, W.J. and Birch, A.N.E. (1995). Species identification of Cecidophyopsis Mites (Acari, Eriophyidea) from different Ribes Species and countries using molecular genetics. Molecular Ecology 4(3), 383-387.