Group of the month: Phylum Chordata, subphylum Tunicata (Previously Urochordata)
Written by Line Willersrud and Rita M. Austin The phylum Chordata contains the three subphylums, Tunicata, Cephalochordata and Vertebrata. Vertebrata, which includes... Read more.
Mapping distribution of cirratulid using Norwegian collections
We were fortunate to obtain finding from ArtsDatabanken for new project. Yesterday the contracts were signed and hence our project can start soon. We are an international... Read more.
Using skims of the genome to reveal if there are two genera in Allodia fungus gnats or not
Usually I work with marine invertebrates from a group called Lophotrochozoa, which comprises among others mollusks, segmented worms and flatworms. However, the paper... Read more.
Animal of the month: Cystophora cristata
By Pia Merete Eriksen and Rita M. Austin I think most of us conceptualize a seal as a comical or cute animal, darting through open waters – I don’t think many... Read more.
Finishing the tale of stone
In last year’s advents calendar, we presented the Master theses of two students. One of the students, Stian Aleksander Helsem has successfully defended his... Read more.
A visit, a small boat, a worm = a new record of an invasive species and a paper
In October 2018, Vasily Radashevsky from the Russian Academy of Sciences briefly visited our collection to go through the material of Spionidae, marine worms of... Read more.
Stygocapitella – an incredibly old worm found beneath your beach towel
Species of the genus Stygocapitella belong to the ringed worms, also known as Annelida. Annelids are worms like earthworms, lugworm or christmas tree worms, but... Read more.
A new paper on Christmas tree worms from the Persian Gulf and the possible first case of heteroplasmy in Annelida
In pre-Covid times, Samaneh Pazoki has visited our lab for 6 months from Iran as part of her PhD. In the meantime, she has successfully defended her PhD and we could... Read more.
A US-Norwegian banker, Hawai’i and a spider genome – How do they come together for biodiversity research?
Written by Jose Cerca (former member of our group and now as a guest author on this blog) Spiders are some of the most charismatic animal lineages. Despite this,... Read more.
Door 5: Modern DNA Sequencing Meets Oslo Natural History Museum Wet Collections: Testing the Impact of Age and Formalin
Pia Merete Eriksen, Rita M. Austin In June 2021, I, Pia M Eriksen, conducted a research project under the guidance of Rita M Austin to sequence herptile type specimen... Read more.