Dr. Alan Wilton
- Position: Senior Lecturer
- Room: 217, Biological Sciences
- Phone: (+61 2) 9385 2019
- Fax: (+61 2) 9385 1483
- email: a.wilton@unsw.edu.au
Professional Experience
- 1980-1991: Postdoc Fellow, NC State, UC Davis, UWA, Uni of Adelaide & Macquarie Uni
- 1991-1995: Lecturer, UNSW
- 1995 - present: Senior Lecturer, UNSW
Research Contribution
Genetics of diseases in dogs:
Border Collie diseases: Developed DNA tests in border collie dogs for two lethal genetic diseases; a lysosomal storage disease, called CL and a immune problem of low neutrophils called TNS. Applying new microarray SNP technology to disease gene discovery in other dog breeds, e.g. ataxia in kelpies (cerebellar abiotrophy), CA in border collies and glaucoma in border collies. Contributed to the development of a dog gene map to facilitate disease gene discovery.
Dingo genetics: Identified the origin of the dingo as an Asian domestic dog introduced to Australia 5,000 years ago and isolated since. Showed number of founding animals was very small.
Established a DNA method for differentiating pure dingo from hybrids with domestic dogs. Applying the method to samples from the field in collaboration with National Parks in NSW and DEC in WA. Monitoring the purity of captive breeding programs for dingoes to ensure pure stock. Widely consulted on conservation genetics of dingoes.
Human genetics:
Gestational Diabetes; collaborative research on disease gene mapping with Dr Stephen Lillioja, UOW.
Pre-eclampsia; established a genetic basis for this disease of hypertension in pregnancy. Completed whole genome scan for genes contributing to hypertension in pregnancy.
Genetic Variation in aboriginal Australian populations with Dr Sheila van Holst Pellekaan.
Established the DNA Sequencing Facility at UNSW for cost-effective research by local researchers doing sequencing and examining genetic variation.
- Member of Management and Executive Committees, Ramaciotti Centre for Gene Function Analysis
- Chairperson Dog Genomics Workshop, International Society of Animal Genetics, 2010
Honours & Awards
- Excellence in Contribution to Canine Research Award from Master Dog Breeders Association, 2007
- Unsung Hero of Science Award in 2004 from Australian Science Communicators for dingo research
- Invited speaker on dog disease gene identification at World Small Animal Veterinary Association Conference, 2007
- Patron of three dingo societies and three dog clubs
- Public Officer of Genetics Society of AustralAsia, Inc 1999-2009
- 2 patents pending
Active Research Projects
- Cerebellar Abiotrophy in Kelpies
- Disease Gene Identification in Dogs
- Glaucoma in Border Collies
- Save the Dingo
Publications
- Kenny MC, Wilton AN and Ballard, JWO (2008)
- Seasonal trade-off between starvation resistance and cold resistance in temperate wild-caught Drosophila simulans.
- Australian Journal of Entomology 47: 20-23
- Shearman JR, Lau VM and Wilton AN (2008)
- Elimination of SETX, SYNE1 and ATCAY as the cause of cerebellar abiotrophy in Australian Kelpies
- Animal Genetics Avail online early doi:10.1111/j.1365-2052.2008
- Elledge, A.E., Allen, L.R., Carlsson, B.L., Wilton, A.N. and Leung, L.K.P. (2008)
- An evaluation of genetic analyses, skull morphology and visual appearance for assessing dingo purity: implications for dingo conservation.
- Wildlife Research. 35: 812-820
- Lingaas, F., Thoresen, S.I. and Wilton, A. (2008)
- Gentest tilgjengelig for ”Trapped Neutrophile Syndrome” (TNS): en ”ny” arvelig immunsviktsykdom hos Border Collie.
- Norsk Veterinærtidsskrift, 9: 567-568
- Shearman, J.R., Lau, V.M. and Wilton, A.N. (2008)
- Elimination of SETX, SYNE1 and ATCAY as the cause of cerebellar abiotrophy in Australian Kelpies.
- Animal Genetics. 39: 573
- Shearman, JS, Wilton, AN (2007)
- Elimination of neutrophil elastase and adaptor protein complex 3 subunit genes as the cause of trapped neutrophil syndrome (TNS) in Border collies
- Animal Genetics 38, 188–189
- Shearman, JS, Zhang QY, Wilton AN (2006)
- Exclusion of CXCR4 as the cause of Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome in Border Collies using 5 microsatellites on chromosome 19
- Animal Genetics 37: 89
- Elledge AE, . Leung LK-P, Allen LR, Firestone K, Wilton AN (2006)
- Assessing the taxonomic status of dingoes, Canis familiaris dingo, for conservation
- Mammal Review 36: 142-156
- Melville SA, Wilson CL, Chiang CS, Studdert VP, Lingaas F, Wilton AN (2005)
- A mutation in canine CLN5 causes Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis in Border Collie dogs
- Genomics 86 287 – 294
- Irion DN, Schaffer AL, Grant S, Wilton AN and Pedersen NC (2005)
- Genetic variation analysis of the Bali Street Dog using microsatellites
- BMC Genetics 6:6
- Savolainen P, Leitner, T., Wilton, AN., Matisoo-Smith, E., Lundeberg, J. (2004)
- A detailed picture of the Origin of the Australian Dingo, obtained from a study of mitochondrial DNA
- Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101: 12387-12390
- Banks SC, Horsup A, Wilton AN and Taylor AC (2003)
- Genetic marker investigation of the source and impact of predation on a highly endangered species
- Molecular Ecology 12: 1663-1667
- Walsh SJ, Turbett GR, Robinson SL, Davies NP, Wilton AN (2003)
- Characterisation of variant alleles at the HumD21S11 locus implies unique Australasian genotypes and re-classification of nomenclature guidelines
- Forensic Science International 135: 35-41