Type: Journal Article Reference: Nelson, H.V., Silver, L., Kovacs, T.G.L. et al. Genome-wide diversity and MHC characterisation in a critically endangered freshwater turtle susceptible to disease. Immunogenetics 77, 21 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00251-025-01378-8 Abstract Small, isolated populations are often vulnerable to increased inbreeding and genetic drift, both of which elevate the risk Continue Reading
Holly Nelson
A Genomic-Based Workflow for eDNA Assay Development for a Critically Endangered Turtle, Myuchelys georgesi
Type: Journal article Reference: Nelson, H.V., Georges, A., Farquharson, K.A., McLennan, E.A., DeGabriel, J.L., Belov, K. and Hogg, C.J. (2025), A Genomic-Based Workflow for eDNA Assay Development for a Critically Endangered Turtle, Myuchelys georgesi. Ecol Evol, 15: e70798. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70798 Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has become a popular conservation tool Continue Reading
Holly Nelson
Holly Nelson (PhD Student) worked on how we can use genomics to revolutionise threatened species management. From genome assembly to downstream analyses using whole-genome data, Holly used her work to answer genetic questions on the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle, Koala, and other threatened species. Her work, in partnership with the Continue Reading
Making it through the final stretch of a PhD in conservation genomics and bioinformatics
by Holly Nelson (PhD Student) Entering the final stage of a PhD is both a marathon and a sprint. After a quick 3-4 years of terminal windows, countless hours coding, latex gloves, tweaking plots to the perfect shade of maroon (#B03060), and obsessing over a turtle species that lives a Continue Reading
A genomic framework to assist conservation breeding and translocation success: A case study of a critically endangered turtle
Type: Journal article Reference: Nelson, H. V., Farquharson, K. A., Georges, A., McLennan, E. A., DeGabriel, J. L., Giese, M., Ormond, C., McFadden, M., Skidmore, A., Prangell, J., Belov, K., & Hogg, C. J. (2024). A genomic framework to assist conservation breeding and translocation success: A case study of a Continue Reading
Sydney Science in Instagram: Meet PhD Student Holly Nelson
Meet PhD student Holly Nelson. Her research with the USYD Australian Wildlife Genomics group and NSW Department of Planning and Environment focuses on using genomic data to help provide tools for the management of threatened species, especially the critically endangered Bellinger River snapping turtle. Watch the full video here: https://www.instagram.com/sydney_science/reel/Cw1FG6-hhD8/
What my PhD has taught me: Turtles are awesome
by Holly Nelson (PhD Student) So, you probably think Tasmanian Devils are adorable and Koalas are super cute. Well, let me tell you about turtles and four quick reasons why they’re awesome. 1. Free rent: Imagine having a portable, self-contained home acquired at birth, the Sydney housing market would be Continue Reading
NSW Department of Planning and Environment: Keeping up with the Bellinger River snapping turtle
An article about people working to conserve the critically endangered Bellinger River snapping turtle to learn more about the species and what’s being done to try to protect it. Research to assist recovery of the Bellinger River snapping turtle is ongoing. University of Sydney PhD student Holly Nelson is using Continue Reading