Facial Morphology Research Group

Proud to support the ’s charter. Together we can become a powerful unifying global player; geopolitically and economically, counter-acting polarising forces, and fighting for our core values of , , and .https://www.africaeuropefoundation.org/AEF-Charter.pdf

www.africaeuropefoundation.org

Congratulations to Stefan, or should I say Dr. Stefan de Jager, for sucessfully passing his PhD viva yesterday! Well deserved Stefan!

We are recruiting research assistants for an exciting new study! More info available here: https://za.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=329f27207f2e80f0&from=mobhp_jobfeed&tk=1egtu2d8tqaf8800

Britain's oldest person with Down's syndrome reaches 77th birthday Georgie Wildgust, 77, of Nottingham, who credits a healthy social life and dancing with reaching his old age, is now believed to be one of the oldest people in the world with Down's syndrome.

This is a great breakthrough!

Neurosurgeons successfully implant 3D printed skull A 22-year-old woman from the Netherlands who suffers from a chronic bone disorder has had the top section of her skull removed and replaced with a 3D printed implant

What a team! Here is to many good things to come!

NEF Community of Scientists review digital economy strategy, elects new Executive Committee ©Next Einstein Forum. The new NEF Community of Scientists Executive Committee 17 March 2019 -NAIROBI – The Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Community of Scientists (CoS) elected a new Executive Team for i…

Well done Prof! 3D printing being put to great use.

SA Prof makes history, performs world's first 3D inner-ear surgery! Meet Prof Mashudu Tshifularo, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist at the Steve Biko Academic hospital who has just performed the world's first

Rock your Socks 21 March

The recent statement from the Southern African Society of Human Genetics (which we as a lab completely support!)

As African scientists, clinicians and counsellors in the field of genetics, the SASHG respect James Watson’s historical contribution to the discovery of the structure of DNA.

However, we categorically reject his - or any other - attempt to link intelligence and race through genetics.

Any claims of genetic superiority of one race over another are misleading, inaccurate and offensive.

Watson’s prejudiced comments are unacceptable, and we unequivocally condemn them, and this way of thinking.

The SASHG strives for fairness and unbiased principles in the science, teaching and practise of human genetics.

Relevant links: https://www.cshl.edu/statement-by-cold-spring-harbor-laboratory-addressing-remarks-by-dr-james-d-watson-in-american-masters-decoding-watson/

Statement by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory addressing remarks by Dr. James D. Watson in “American Masters: Decoding Watson” - Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) unequivocally rejects the unsubstantiated and reckless personal opinions Dr. James D. Watson expressed on the subject of ethnicity and genetics during the PBS documentary “American Masters: Decoding Watson” that aired January 2, 2019. Dr. Watson’s statement...

The discussion on the Healthcare systems of tomorrow really highlighted the role of technology in early detection of diseases, self-care, and treatment

Making my way back from the World Economic Forum Annual meeting of New Champions. What a truly inspirational experience! It just made me realise again that we really have our work cut out for us if Africa wants to keep up with the 4th Industrial revolution!

Annual Meeting of the New Champions The Annual Meeting of the New Champions is the foremost global summit on innovation, science and technology, promoting entrepreneurship in the global public interest. Established in 2007,...

Congratulations to Catherine Tribe, who graduated her MSc with a distinction! I am super proud of you!

Catherine's work focused on the relationship between genetic variation in immune genes and facial appearance.

Science week 2018! A big thank you to all the volunteers and the awesome doctors, lawyers, pilots and would be scientists of the future!

We have one research assistant position available for a study in Tanzania in July 2018. If you would like to apply please send your CV to [email protected].

A quick introduction to our new non-invasive method of detecting malaria. We are looking for collaborators to test the device on other malaria endemic countries. If you are working in malaria, please contact us!

NEF Fellows Spotlight: Vinet Coetzee

Looking forward to the NEF gathering later this month!

One of the most transformative scientific gatherings in Africa is about to happen, here's how you can be part of it - CNBC Africa Next Einstein Forum: Driving a research & innovation-led growth agenda for Africa.

Well done!

Genome-wide mapping of global-to-local genetic effects on human facial shape The authors report a data-driven approach to phenotyping 3D facial shape. They apply their methodology to 2,329 individuals of European ancestry and identify 38 loci that associate with specific facial morphologies, some of which overlap with neural-crest-specific regulatory regions.

Here is a great opportunity for all the young African innovators out there

http://gg2018.nef.org/ci2i/

Ci2i On 26-28 March 2018, the Next Einstein Forum will host its second Global Gathering in Kigali, Rwanda. A critical component of the NEF is its unique innovation competition, the Challenge of Invention to Innovation (Ci2i). Young African scientists and innovators under 42 years of age are invited to pr...

Welcome to our group of 2018 interns!

Some interesting research, led by Dr Ian Stephen, that we were involved in

https://m.medicalxpress.com/news/2017-12-health-brain.html

New computer model predicts your health from the shape of your face, and so does your brain An international study, led by researchers at Macquarie University, has developed a new computer model that can predict the status of certain health characteristics just by analysing a person's face, and reports that our brains work in much the same way.

Great article about our research aimed at improving early diagnosis for Down Syndrome in Africa, by Sarah Wild

https://www.thedailybeast.com/down-syndrome-research-has-been-racist-will-artificial-intelligence-help

Down Syndrome Research Has Been Biased. Will Artificial Intelligence Help? South African researchers are developing facial scanning technologies to help diagnose Down syndrome earlier in black children.

Are you a guy between 18 and 25 who live or work on the Ga-Rankuwa area? You can take part in one of our studies and earn a voucher for some chow. Contact Stefan: 083296 0441

2018 Internship positions available!

Want to gain some research experience? Will you be in your 3rd year at the University of Pretoria in 2018? If so, you can apply for an internship in the Facial Morphology Research Group.

The aim of the internship is to give students an opportunity to experience what postgraduate research is all about. It normally entails involvement in one of our large data collection drives where you collect data as part of a research team. Depending on the intern's availability and skills they can then also take part in some of the other activities, such as DNA extraction, data capturing and/ or 3D facial analysis.

If you are interested in applying please email your student number to [email protected]. I will evaluate your student record and get back to you before the end of the week.

Deadline Thursday 9 November 2017

Fantastic study!

Genetics Researchers Disprove a Long-Held Racist Assumption Many genetic skin variants associated with light skin originated in Africa.

Congratulations to the new batch of Tuks Young Research Leaders!!

Interesting finding!

Extreme Male Brain Theory: Girls with autism have characteristically more masculine faces | Genetic Literacy Project A new study suggests that boys and girls with autism have facial features that are characteristically more male than female. The findings, published in Sci

Congratulations to Dr Khutso Phalane for completing her PhD! We are extremely proud!

Khutso's PhD research dealt with the facial features associated with two measures of immunity (Cytokine response and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) variation) in African men.

Image from left to right: Dr Vinet Coetzee, primary supervisor (Dept of Genetics, University of Pretoria); Dr Khutso Phalane, the PhD candidate and now Dr; and Dr Helen Steel, co-supervisor (Dept of Immunology, University of Pretoria)

I am very proud to join this amazing group of researchers today!

2017-2019 NEF Fellows Visit the post for more.

Guess which guy has a stronger immune response?

Our new paper published today in Scientific Reports shows a direct link between men's immunity and the way they look.

We often remark how healthy or unhealthy someone looks, but how accurately can we judge someone’s health and immunity? Previous research found inconsistent links between people’s health and their appearance. This lack of consistency between studies was partly due to the fact that researchers often failed to measure immunity directly. In this study we used two blood tests to measure immunity directly. We also took facial photographs of these men and asked women to judge their photos for apparent health, attractiveness and a variety of other facial features. We found that men with a stronger immune response were judged significantly healthier and more attractive. Furthermore, we also identified specific facial shape and colour cues associated with immunity.

You can access the paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-08015-9

The images are actually composite images of the ten men with the lowest and highest immune response, not images of two individual men. I will reveal the answer to which image depicted the stronger immune response on Wednesday.