Biosciences Seminar Series - Winter 2018
15 February 2018 - 1pm - Zoology Museum
Tesla Valves and Turtle Lungs: The Loopy Evolution of Reptilian Respiratory System
Dr Colleen Farmer
Our Biosciences Seminar Series continues with a talk by Dr Colleen Farmer, from the Department of Zoology at Trinity College Dublin (Ireland). Colleen is broadly interested vertebrate evolution, especially concerning metabolism and vertebrate transitions. To do so she combines many laboratory and computational methods with cutting edge medical tools.
The lungs of birds are extraordinary organs because they contain aerodynamic valves, and these valves cause air to move in the same direction through most of the conducting airways during both phases of ventilation. It has long been thought that birds are unique in this way, and that airflow is tidal in the lungs of other animals, but research from my lab has revealed that aerodynamic valves exist in the lungs of crocodilians, and at least some species of turtles and lizards. We create computational fluid dynamic models, measure flow with several techniques, and visualize flow in order to make maps throughout the lungs, and to gain insight into the mechanistic basis of how these valves work. Our aim is to help shed light on the evolutionary history of the vertebrate lung..
Hope to see many of you - everyone most welcome to attend!
For the list of forthcoming seminars see here
For the list of forthcoming seminars see here
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