Breast cancer awareness in the genomic landscape

Posted on October 10, 2022

Researchers at the University of Pretoria (UP) are making today matter by battling aggressive breast cancer through identifying genes that make African women more susceptible to certain forms of breast cancer. However, this is no easy task as very little genomic information is known about African...

New study finds SA’s springhare is a better hopper than Australia’s kangaroos

Posted on February 03, 2022

While kangaroos are distinguished for their well-developed hindlimbs which they use to hop across the Australian outback, it seems South Africa has its own unusual hopper – the springhare. A new study published in the Journal of Anatomy suggests that “the diminutive springhare is a...

New study finds today’s gorillas may be smarter than human ‘ancestors’ of three million years ago

Posted on November 13, 2019

The great apes, including humans, gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans, are very intelligent. But how does the intelligence of living great apes, such as Koko the gorilla, compare with our 3 million-year-old relatives, such as “Lucy” the Australopithecine?

From the skull of an ostrich to the lungs of a dog, no animal body part goes to waste at UP’s Plastination Unit

Posted on September 17, 2019

The Plastination Unit in the Department of Anatomy and Physiology at the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science has created more than 200 plastinated specimens since it became operational in 2017. Louise de Bruin spoke to unit head Wilma Olivier.

New breast cancer research shows promise for the future

Posted on July 30, 2018

A major challenge in cancer research is to find agents that target cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells alone and unharmed. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments can have many undesirable side effects because they damage healthy cells as well.

Research explores the social life of one of Africa's most iconic animals

Posted on September 20, 2017

Giraffes are now listed as a threatened species, and it is said that there are currently fewer giraffes than elephants in Africa. Research taking place at the University of Pretoria, will ensure a greater understanding of this species.

Africa Science Leadership Programme announces a second round

Posted on March 04, 2016

Twenty-two outstanding scientists from major regions in Africa will participate in the second round of the Africa Science Leadership Programme (ASLP). The scientists represent basic and applied sciences, and span a wide variety of disciplines including the social sciences and humanities. The...

9th Summer-School - Non-invasive Monitoring of Hormones

Posted on February 03, 2016

The course is suitable to colleagues/students who are not familiar with non-invasive techniques and will allow participants to gain practical experience in techniques of non-invasive endocrine monitoring including sample workup preparation, performance of enzyme immunoassays (EIA), data...