Dr Simon Yung Wa Sin

After I graduated in 2005 from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) with a BSc (Hons) in Biology, I completed my MPhil in 2008, focused on molecular phylogeny of crustaceans and cephalopods.  Later that year, I received the Croucher Foundation Scholarship and joined the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) to begin my DPhil research within WildCRU's long-term Badger Project.

My research interests span the fields of evolutionary biology and behavioural ecology.  My current research is focused on the genetic basis of pathogen resistance and mate choice.  On a finer scale, I examine individual variation within a family of genes called the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which plays a crucial role in fighting against pathogen invasion.  In addition, I investigate the relationships between the MHC genes and body odour.  My study is to examine whether the MHC genes in badgers affect their pathogen burdens, body odour and ultimately their mate choice

Email: yungwa.sin@zoo.ox.ac.uk.

Publications

YW Sin, H Dugdale, C Newman, DW Macdonald & T Burke (in press) Evolution of MHC class I genes in the European badger (Meles meles). Ecology and Evolution

YW Sin, CD Buesching, T Burke & DW Macdonald (in press) Molecular characterization of the microbial communities in the subcaudal gland secretion of the European badger (Meles meles). FEMS Microbiology Ecology

YW Sin, H Dugdale, C Newman, DW Macdonald & T Burke (2012) MHC class II genes in the European badger (Meles meles): characterization, patterns of variation, and transcription analysis. Immunogenetics 64(4): 313-327. doi: 10.1007/s00251-011-0578-9

R Lizundia, C Newman, CD Buesching, D Ngugi, D Blake, YW Sin, DW Macdonald, A Wilson & D McKeever (2011) Evidence for a Role of the Host-specific Flea (Paraceras melis) in the Transmission of Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) pestanai to the European Badger. PLoS ONE 6(2): e16977. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0016977

YW Sin, KH Chu & C Yau (2009) Isolation and characterization of highly polymorphic microsatellites in the mitre squid, Uroteuthis (Photololigo) chinensis. Molecular Ecology Resources 9: 1460-1559

YW Sin, JCY Lai, PKL Ng & KH Chu (2009) Phylogeny of Dorippoidea (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) inferred from three mitochondrial genes. Invertebrate Systematics 23: 223-230

YW Sin, C Yau & KH Chu (2009) Morphological and genetic differentiation of two loliginid squid, Uroteuthis (Photololigo) chinensis and U. (P.) edulis (Cephalopoda: Loliginidae), in Asia. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 369: 22-30

M Mitsuhashi, YW Sin, HC Lei, TY Chan & KH Chu (2007) Systematic status of the caridean shrimp families Gnathophyllidae Dana and Hymenoceridae Ortmann (Crustacea, Decapoda, Caridea): A preliminary examination based on nuclear rDNA sequences. Invertebrate Systematics 21: 613-622

YW Sin, KH Chu, PKL Ng (2006) Mitochondrial DNA Phylogeny of the family Dorippidae (Decapoda, brachyura). Integrative and Comparative Biology 46(S1): E131

Conservation biology, host-parasite interaction, mate choice, population genetics.