iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Never mind the fries - want a lapdance with that ?

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Even on holiday, the day job shines. Here in Thailand, they’re straight to the point. Or hole, as it turns out

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

In true kiwi style Xavier - asking for Steve here in Tairawhiti when I say ‘give us a go?’ 😀

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Reposted by John Mackay

Phil Lester @pjlester.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

A new approach to control the Varroa parasite in honey bee colonies. Gene silencing has strong potential as a safe, highly targeted method for controlling a wide range of pests. www.farmersweekly.co.nz/news/biopest...

farmersweekly.co.nz

Biopesticide opens new front against varroa

NZ and US scientists develop gene-silencing tech to render mite temporarily sterile.

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Interesting to read an interview with Max Scott (formerly at Massey many years ago) where a female lethal gene is suppressed until a final production . . . so only males produced and released.

John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Frig around and find out . . .

John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

What a quandary ! Ready to put the qPCR reactions into the machine in the next room, but *this* room has the operatic section of Bohemian Rhapsody playing . . and we all know what comes next . . .

static.klipy.com

Freddie Mercury Wayne’s World Car Scene

ALT: Freddie Mercury Wayne’s World Car Scene

John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Reminds me I must check this hive for varroa levels. And yes, we also test our lab hive with the Foster Method

John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

I have been thanked for this paper more than once . . . 😀

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Damn ! Would have loved to add it to my small collection

John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Cool. I used one of their later tube ones. And also their capillary instrument. And now I used their latest incarnation - the Mic from BMS. Where is this instrument now Ian ?

dnaturediagnostics.bsky.social @dnaturediagnostics.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Reposted by John Mackay

The great thing about this work is Andrew’s use of ‘We’ve’. As in, the DOC rangers are doing the testing themselves as and when needed. Great effort team 👏🏻 👏🏻

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

No surprise as Australia confirms their multi-resistant varroa population as a new incursion.

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

No. They might use powdered sugar to *monitor* mite levels, not to reduce numbers. And it is both 1. not the best method and 2. likely *not* non-toxic

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Stunning day in Dunedin today

John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Thanks for the invitation by the Northern Tablelands Beekeeping club in Aus - good to talk with you about the Foster method for AFB as well as our rapid DNA method for pyrethroid and amitraz resistance #pyrethroid #varroa

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

A bit surprising as varroa losses actually declined last year as a percentage. So the rebound is a good reminder. Also have to put into context of eg USA which list about 60% of hives last year - due to uncontrolled varroa

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

NZ Honey bee Research symposium for 2026 ? Share your (few) thoughts: mailchi.mp/799bfc859633...

mailchi.mp

NZ Honey bee Research Symposium - We'd love your feedback

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Looking across current work and potential in NZ, what would be a (very!) rough estimate of 💵 to shift the needle ?

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Except NZ does *not* have the genetic resistance in varroa, described here

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

“Figure 1 shows evidence of photoshop gone wrong”

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

My response would have been “you’re welcome” “Huh?” “You were thanking me?” . . . and what you said. But not as eloquently of course

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

If you're a fan of real-time PCR / qPCR and you've been around it a long time (yes to both) then you might also be interested in this 'dual memoir' by Russ Higuchi (inventor of qPCR) and Lincoln McBride (led the development of the instrument below - the first commercial real-time instrument)

mdpi.com

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

The team here are pleased to see the publication of our method to detect (and differentiate) pyrethroid resistance mutations (L925) in varroa mites, via snapback high resolution melting - just as the resistance appears in Australia rdcu.be/e76OW

rdcu.be

Snapback high resolution melting analysis for the rapid detection and differentiation of the L925 mutations associated with resistance to synthetic pyrethroids in Varroa destructor

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Nah, I’ve loved coffee and muffins far longer than 28 years. #notimpressed

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

I never quite understand why people want to keep using dUTP and UNG when doing qPCR, rather than gel-based stuff

John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Was always fun to ask people writing their ‘contamination was prevented according to Kwok and Higuchi’ . . . yet most couldn’t tell you what was in there !

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John Mackay @dnature.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Snap. Finding old files too from the same era - PCR protocol written for lab (oil overlay etc), early PCR papers . . .

Finding more old files - my original PCR protocol for the lab. Complete with oil overlay and greasing the tubes. . .

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30 years? Sorry Neil . . .um, wrong Neil Gemmell. And ahh, wrong. . umm. . . me

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Hmm. Thinking of ‘the Very Hungry Researcher’ . . . “the researcher wrote 3 grant proposals but they were *still* hungry . . .”