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Gary Dobson

Staff picture: Gary Dobson
Environmental and Biochemical Sciences
Environmental and Biochemical Sciences
Research Scientist
Gary.Dobson@hutton.ac.uk
+44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)

The James Hutton Institute
Invergowrie
Dundee DD2 5DA
Scotland UK

 

Current research interests

  • Development of GC-MS based metabolic profiling methodologies.
  • Application of metabolic profiling to study phytochemical diversity in potato germplasm collections.

Past research

  • Application of metabolic profiling to study unintended effects and substantial equivalence in genetically-modified potato (SCRI, 2001-2004).
  • Various studies of plant and microbial lipids including novel GC-MS and LC-MS methodologies for determining phospholipid molecular species and the nature of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers, phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) in describing soil microbial communities, the chemistry of leaf lipids and genotypic variation in seed fatty acids in blackcurrant, changes in the membrane lipids of Arabidopsis mutants (SCRI, 1996-2001).
  • Chemistry of cyclic fatty acids formed during heating of frying oils (SCRI, 1993-1996).
  • Various aspects of beer quality (Scottish and Newcastle, 1988-1993).
  • Using lipid biomarkers to study microbial communities in hot spring microbial mats (University of Bristol, 1984-1988).
  • Chemotaxonomy of mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, using complex lipids (University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 1980-1984).

Bibliography

  • Dobson, G. (2008) Analysis of fatty acids in functional foods with emphasis on omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid., In: Methods of Analysis for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals (eds. W.J. Hurst). CRC Press - Taylor and Francis Group, Boca Raton, Florida, pp65-100.
  • Dobson, G.; Shepherd, T.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Griffiths, D.W.; McNicol, J.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2007) Application of metabolite and flavour volatile profiling to studies of biodiversity in Solanum species., In: Nikolau, B.L. & Wurtele, E.S. (eds.). Concepts in Plant Metabolomics. Springer, Dordrecht, 259-268. ISBN: 978-1-4020-5607-9
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Griffiths, D.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2007) Profiling of metabolites and volatile flavour compounds from Solanum species using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry., In: Nikolau, B.L. & Wurtele, E.S. (eds.). Concepts in Plant Metabolomics. Springer, Dordrecht, 208-219. ISBN: 978-1-4020-5607-9
  • Dobson, G. (2003) Gas chromatography - mass spectrometry of conjugated linoleic acids and metabolites., In: Advances in Conjugated Linoleic Acid Research (eds. J.L. Sebedio, W.W. Christie and R.O. Adlof). AOCS Press, Champaign, Illinois, Volume 2, pp13-36
  • Dobson, G. (2002) Analysis of fatty acids in functional foods with emphasis on w-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid., In: Hurst, W.J. (ed.). Methods of Analysis for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, Chapter 2, 65-100.
  • Dobson, G. (1999) Cyclic fatty acids in heated vegetable oils: structures and mechanisms., In: Recent Developments in the Synthesis of Fatty Acid Derivatives (eds. G. Knothe & J.T.P. Derksen). AOCS Press. Champaign, Illinois, pp196-212.

  • Shepherd, L.V.T.; Dobson, G.; Davies, H.V. (2011) Metabolome biodiversity in crop plant species - when, where, how much and so what?., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2010, pp20-21.
  • McNicol, J.W.; Verrall, S.R.; Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Griffiths, D.W.; Ramsay, G.; Davies, H.V.; Stewart, D. (2006) Statistical analysis of metabolomic data., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2006, pp54-55.
  • Christie, W.W.; Dobson, G.; Robertson, G.W. (1998) Determination of the structures of fatty acids., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 1997/98

  • Shepherd, T.; Cognat, C.; Griffiths, D.W.; Dobson, G.; Davies, H.V.; Stewart, D. (2008) Application of GC-(ToF)MS based metabolite profiling techniques for compositional analysis of leaf cuticular waxes from potato., Metabomeeting 2008, Lyon, France, 28-29 April 2008.
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Griffiths, D.W.; McNicol, J.W.; Davies, H.V.; Stewart, D. (2006) Use and limitations of GC-MS based metabolite profiling methods for the analysis of metabolite content in freeze-dried potato tubers., 4th International Plant Metabolomics Conference, Reading, 7-10 April 2007. Metabolomics, 2(4), p279.
  • Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V.; Verrall, S.R.; Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Marshall, R.; Colquhoun, I.; Le Gall, G. (2004) Metabolic profiling: Platform technologies to detect unintended effects following genetic modification of potato (Solanum tuberosum)., 3rd International Congress on Plant Metabolomics, Iowa, USA, 3-6 June 2004.
  • Dobson, G.; Shepherd, T.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Griffiths, D.W.; McNicol, J.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2004) Application of metabolite and flavour volatile profiling to studies of biodiversity in Solanum species., 3rd International Congress on Plant Metabolomics, Iowa, USA, 3-6 June 2004.
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Griffiths, D.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2004) Profiling of metabolites and volatile flavour compounds from Solanum species using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry., 3rd International Congress on Plant Metabolomics, Iowa, USA, 3-6 June 2004.
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Griffiths, D.W.; McNicol, J.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2004) Application of metabolite profiling to studies of biodiversity in Solanum species., Society for Experimental Biology Annual Meetin,. Heriot-Watt Unviersity, 29 March - 2 April 2004.
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Griffiths, D.W. (2004) Evaluation of automated thermal desorption techniques for the comparison of the head space volatiles released by boiled tubers from two Solanum species., Flavour and Fragrance Seminar - Developments in Sample Introduction and Allergen Analysis, Agilent Technologies, Stockport, 6 July 2004.
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; McNicol, J.W.; Deighton, N.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2003) Can metabolite profiling be used to identify unintended effects in transgenic tubers?, 16th International Mass Spectrometry Conference, Edinburgh, 31 August - 5 September 2003.
  • Ruiz del Castillo, M.L.; Dobson, G.; Brennan, R.M.; Gordon, S. (2002) Fatty acid composition in seeds of blackcurrant genotypes., Proceedings of the 8th International Rubes and Ribes Symposium, Volume 1 and 2. Acta Horticulturae, 585, 531-533.
  • Christie, W.W.; Dobson, G.; Shepherd, T. (1999) Laboratory accreditation in a lipid analytical laboratory., Lipid Technology, 11, 118-119.
  • Christie, W.W.; Dobson, G. (1999) Thin-layer chromatography revisited., Lipid Technology, 11, 64, 66,
  • Dobson, G.; Itabashi, Y.; Christie, W.W.; Robertson, G.W. (1998) Molecular species composition of plant lipids by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of diacylglycerol nicotinates., Proceedings of the 13th International Symposium on Plant Lipids, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain, 9-11 July 1998.

  • McDougall, G.J.; Allwood, J.W.; Dobson, G.; Stewart, D.; Crozier, A.; Gill, C.I.R. (2018) Novel bioactive triterpenoids in Rubus: Variation due to tissue, extraction and genotype., 2nd International Conference on Food Bioactives and Health, Lisbon, Portugal, 26-28 September 2018. (Poster)
  • Foito, A.; Freitag, S.; Sungurtas, J.; Santos, C.; Costa, I.; Jardim, C.; Garcia, G.; Ramos, R.; Menezes, R.; Mendez-Sevillano, D.; Ottens, M.; Dobson, G.; McDougall, G.J.; Hackett, C.; Graham, J.; Stewart, D. (2017) BacHberry - Bio-prospecting strategies identify a novel bioactive phenolic compound from a Rubus germplasm collection., International Conference on Polyphenols and Health, Quebec, Canada, 3-6 October 2017.
  • Dobson, G.; Shepherd, T.; Allwood, W.; Palau, R.; McRae, D.; Pont, S.; Sungurtas, J.; Alexander, C.; Verrall, S.; Stewart, D.; Shepherd, L. (2017) Comparison of rapeseed grown sustainably and conventionally. A comparison of the quality of oil and meal from winter oilseed rape grown under sustainable and conventional practices., International Conference on Natural Product Biotechnology, AECC, Aberdeen, 25-26 September 2017.
  • Dobson, G.; Shepherd, T.; Palau, R.; McRae, D.; Pont , S.; Sungurtus, J.; Alexander, C.; Verrall, S.; Stewart, D.; Shepherd, L. (2017) A comparison of the quality of oil and meal from rapeseed grown under sustainable and conventional cultivation practices., Scottish Lipid Discussion Group, University of St Andrews, 4 September 2017.
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; McRae, D.; Sungurtas, J.; Pont, S.; Palau, R.; Alexander, C.; Verrall, S.; Stewart, D.; Shepherd, L. (2016) Comparing the effects of different cultivation practices on the metabolite composition of cereal crops., Cereals in Practice, Saphock Farm, Oldmeldrum, 5 July 2016. (Poster).
  • Dobson, G.; Shepherd, T.; Palau, R.; McRae, D.; Sungurtas, J.; Alexander, C.; Verrall, S.; Stewart, D.; Shepherd, L.V.T. (2016) Comparison of rapeseed grown sustainably and conventionally. A comparison of the quality of oil and meal from winter oilseed rape grown under sustainable and conventional cultivation practices., Agriculture and the Environment XI, What Future for our Farming Systems?: Environmental Challenges and Integrated Solutions. Edinburgh, 1-2 March 2016. (Poster).
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; McRae, D.; Sungurtas, J.; Pont, S.; Palau, R.; Alexander, C.; Verrall, S.; Stewart, D.; Shepherd, L.V.T. (2016) A comparison of the metabolite compositions of spring barley, winter barley and winter wheat grown under sustainable and conventional cultivation practices using a GC-MS metabolomics approach., Agriculture and the Environment XI, What Future for our Farming Systems?: Environmental Challenges and Integrated Solutions. Edinburgh, 1-2 March 2016. (Poster).
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; McRae, D.; Sungurtas, J.; Pont, S.; Palau, R.; Alexander, C.; Verrall, S.; Stewart, D.; Shepherd, L. (2016) Comparing the effects of different cultivation practices on the metabolite composition of cereal crops., Scottish Metabolomics Network Meeting at the Centre for Health Sciences, Inverness, 16-17 November 2016.
  • Dobson, G.; McDougall, G.J.; Stewart, D. (2011) BrainHealthFood-bioactive compounds from black currant waste for brain health., Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) Winter Meeting, Dundee, 9 March 2011. (Poster)
  • Dobson, G.; McDougall, G.J.; Stewart, D. (2009) Bioactive compounds from blackcurrant waste for brain health., BrainHealthFood Project. (Poster)
  • Verrall, S.R.; McNicol, J.W.; Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Griffiths, D.W.; Ramsay, G.; Stewart, D. (2007) Using hierarchical clustering of metabolomic data to relate clusters to metabolite pathways., 3rd International Metabolomics Society Conference, Manchester, 10-14 June 2007.
  • Dobson, G.; Shepherd, T.; Griffiths, D.W.; Ross, H.A.; Verrall, S.R.; Stewart, D. (2007) Studies of tuber developmental stages in the potato Solanum tuberosum group phureja using GC-MS-based metabolomics and volatile analysis approaches., 3rd International Metabolomics Conference. Manchester, 10-14 June 2007.
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Griffiths, D.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2004) Use of gas chromatography-(time-of-flight) mass spectrometry for analysis of metabolites from Solanum species., Society for Experimental Biology Annual Meeting, Heriot Watt University, 29 March - 2 April 2004.
  • Verrall, S.R.; Deighton, N.; Marshall, R.; Sungurtas, J.; Shepherd, T.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; Dobson, G.; McNicol, J.W.; Davies, H.V. (2003) Can metabolomics identify unintended effects in transgenic tubers?, 2nd International Conference on Plant Metabolomics, Potsdam, Germany, 25-28 April 2003. (Poster)
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Griffiths, D.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2003) Analysis of metabolites from Solanum species using gas chromatography-(Time-of-Flight) mass spectrometry and automated data analysis., 16th International Mass Spectrometry Conference, Edinburgh, 31 August - 5 September 2003. (Poster)
  • Dobson, G.; Ruiz del Castillo, M.; Brennan, R.M.; Gordon, S. (2001) g-Linolenic acid content in the seeds of blackcurrant genotypes., Natural Products Biology Workshop, University of Warwick, 20-21 May 2001. (Poster)

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The James Hutton Research Institute is the result of the merger in April 2011 of MLURI and SCRI. This merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food, land use, and climate change.