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Robbie Waugh

Staff picture: Robbie Waugh
Cell and Molecular Sciences
Cell and Molecular Sciences
Programme Leader
Robbie.Waugh@hutton.ac.uk
+44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)

The James Hutton Institute
Invergowrie
Dundee DD2 5DA
Scotland UK

 

Current positions

  • 2011 - Research Leader (PC2), James Hutton Institute (80%)

  • 2012 - Professor, Div. Plant Sciences, University of Dundee (20%)
  • 2008 - Honorary Professor, University of Glasgow
  • 2013 - Trustee Director of ‘The Genome Analysis Centre’, Norwich
  • 2014 - Adjunct Professor, University of Adelaide
  • 2016 – Adjunct Professor, University of Minneapolis (pending)
  • 2014 – Co-Director, Scottish Food Security Alliance (Crops)
  • 2010 – Board Member, ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, Adelaide

Awards

Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (2015 onwards)

Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2013 onwards)

Honorary Professor, University of Glasgow (2008 onwards)

Education

  • BSc (hons), Strathclyde University (1981)
  • PhD, University of Dundee (1987)

Current research interests

In late 2015 I was awarded a 5-year ERC advanced grant to extend our work on meiosis and recombination in large genome crop plants. This complements ongoing interests in inflorescence development and architecture and the development and application of genetic (e.g. GWAS) and genomic technologies (e.g. exome sequencing) to explore, largely through collaboration, a range of issues in plant biology (e.g. cell wall biology). Common themes include the impact of natural (e.g. crop wild relatives and landraces) and induced (e.g. mutants, genome editing) diversity, how these can be assessed, generated, captured efficiently and exploited for both discovery science and crop improvement. In future, while maintaining a focus on gene identification we will also conduct more mechanistic studies in order to understand the individual genes and networks of interaction that condition certain biological responses (e.g. inflorescence architecture). Translating research into tangible outcomes remains an important driver and we have had considerable success over an extended period in identifying genes that control a broad range of phenotypic traits. We therefore actively collaborate with the commercial sector, who generally deploy technologies that we have developed, or discoveries we have made, in practical crop improvement programmes.

Bibliography

  • Arrieta, M.; Colas, I.; Macaulay, M.; Waugh, R.; Ramsay, L. (2020) A modular tray growth system for barley., In: Pradillo M. & Heckmann S. (eds). Plant Meiosis. Methods in Molecular Biology, Humana, New York, Volume 2061, pp367-379.
  • Darrier, B.; Arrieta, M.; Mittmann, S.U.; Sourdille, P.; Ramsay, L.; Waugh, R.; Colas, I. (2020) Following the formation of synaptonemal complex formation in wheat and barley by high-resolution microscopy., In: Pradillo M. & Heckmann S. (eds). Plant Meiosis. Methods in Molecular Biology, Humana, New York, Volume 2061, pp207-215.
  • Mittmann, S.; Arrieta, M.; Ramsay, L.; Waugh, R.; Colas, I. (2019) Preparation of barley pollen mother cells for confocal and super resolution microscopy., In: Harwood, W.A. (ed.). Barley: Methods and Protocols. Methods Molecular Biology, Volume 1900, Humana Press, New York, Chapter 11, pp167-179.
  • Bayer, M.; Morris, J.; Booth, C.; Booth, A.; Uzrek, N.; Russell, J.R.; Waugh, R.; Hedley, P.E. (2019) Exome capture for variant discovery and analysis in barley., In: Harwood, W.A. (ed.). Barley: Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, Humana Press, New York, Volume 1900, Chapter 18, pp283-310.
  • Mittmann, S.U.; Arrieta, M.; Ramsay, L.; Waugh, R.; Colas, I. (2019) Preparation of barley pollen mother cells for confocal and super resolution microscopy., In: Harwood, W.A. (ed.). Barley: Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, Humana Press, New York, Volume 1900, Chapter 11, pp167-179.
  • Simpson, C.G.; Fuller, J.; Flores, J.; Mayer, C-D.; Calixto, C.P.G.; Milne, L.; Hedley, P.E.; Booth, C.; Waugh, R.; Brown, J.W.S. (2019) High resolution RT-PCR analysis of alternative barley transcripts., In: Harwood, W.A. (ed.). Barley: Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, Humana Press, New York, Volume 1900, Chapter 17, pp269-281.
  • Simpson, C.G.; Barrero, R.A.; Bayer, M.; Flavell, A.; Rapazote-Flores, P.; Bellgard, M.I.; Hedley, P.E.; Zhang, R.; Waugh, R. (2018) The expressed portion of the barley genome., In: Stein, N. & Muehlbauer, G. (eds.). The Barley Genome, Compendium of Plant Genomes. Springer, Cham, Switzerland, Chapter 7, 789-107.
  • Twardziok, S.; Gundlach, H.; Hedley, P.E.; Bayer, M.; Platzer, M.; Groth, M.; Waugh, R.; Spannagl, M. (2018) Gene prediction in the barley genome., In: Stein, N. & Muehlbauer, G. (eds.). The Barley Genome, Compendium of Plant Genomes. Springer, Cham, Switzerland, Chapter 6, 73-88.
  • Ramsay, L.; Colas, I.; Waugh, R. (2014) Modulation of meiotic recombination., In: Kumlehn, J. & Stein, N. (eds.). Biotechnological Approaches to Barley Improvement, Part II. Springer, Berlin, Chapter 16, pp311-329.
  • Waugh, R.; Flavell, A.J.; Russell, J.R.; Thomas, W.T.B.; Ramsay, L.; Comadran, J. (2014) Exploiting barley genetic resources for Genome Wide Association Scans (GWAS)., Tuberosa, R., Graner, A. & Frison, E. (eds.). Genomics of Plant Genetic Resources. Volume 1. Managing, Sequencing and Mining Genetic Resources. Springer, The Netherlands, Chapter 10, pp237-254.
  • Mezaka, O.; Legsdina, L.; Waugh, R.; Close, T.J.; Rostoks, B. (2013) Genetic diversity in Latvian Spring barley association mapping population., In: Zhang, G., Li, C. & Xu, L. (eds.). Advances in Barley Sciences - Proceedings of the 11th International Barley Genetics Symposium. Springer & Zhejiang University Press, Dordrecht, Chapter 2, pp25-35.
  • Forster, B.P.; Franckowiak, J.D.; Lundqvist, U.; Thomas, W.T.B.; Leader, D.; Shaw, P.; Lyon, J.; Waugh, R. (2012) Mutant phenotyping and pre-breeding in barley., In: Shu, Q.Y., Forster, B.P. & Nakagawa, H. (eds.). Plant Mutation Breeding and Biotechnology. CAB International, Wallingford. Chapter 25, pp327-346.
  • Comadran, J.; Waugh, R. (2012) Introduccion al mapeo por asociacion genetica., Spanish Society of Genetics, Gijon, 1.
  • Druka, A.; Waugh, R. (2010) Barley genomics and malting quality improvement., In: Zhang, G. & Li, C. (eds.). Genetics and Improvement of Barley Malt Quality. Springer, 238-259.
  • Snape, J.W.; Powell, W.; Waugh, R. (2010) Hordeum species., In: Brenner, S. & Miller, J.H. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Genetics. Elsevier Science Inc., 971-973.
  • Hein, I.; Kumlehn, J.; Waugh, R. (2008) Functional validation in the Triticeae., In: Jorgensen, R. (ed.). Genetics and Genomics of the Triticeae. Chapter 13, 359-286.
  • Druka, A.; Waugh, R.; Hedley, P.E. (2008) Gene expression profiling., In: Rapley, R. & Walker, J.R. (eds.). Molecular Biomethods Handbook. 2nd edition. Humana Press, Chapter 14, 194-212.
  • Powell, W.; Waugh, R.; Bradshaw, J.E.; Russell, J.R.; Ramsay, L. (2006) Introduction to classical genetics and plant breeding., In: Christou, P. & Klee, H. (eds.). Handbook of Plant Biotechnology. 2nd ed. John Wiley and Sons Ltd, Chichester, pp3-29.
  • Ritter, E.; Lucca, F.; Sanchez, I.; Ruiz de Galarreta, J.I.; Aragones, A.; Castanon, S.; Bryan, G.J.; Waugh, R.; Lefebvre, V.; Rousselle-Bourgeois, F.; Gebhardt, C.; van Eck, H.; van Os, H.; Taco, J.; Bakker, E.; Bakker, J. (2005) Genomic resources in potato and possibilities for exploitation., In: Haverkort, A.J. & Struik, P.C (eds.). Potato in progress; science meets practice. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Netherlands, pp55-65.
  • Trognitz, B.R.; Bonierbale, M.; Landeo, J.A.; Forbes, G.; Bradshaw, J.E.; Mackay, G.R.; Waugh, R.; Huarte, M.A.; Colon, L. (2001) Improving potato resistance to disease under the Global Initiative on Late Blight., In: Cooper, H.D., Spillane, C. & Hodgkin, T. (eds.). Broadening the Genetic Base of Crop Production. CABI/FAO/IPGRI, pp385-398.
  • Cooper-Bland, S.; Baird, E.; Kumar, A.; De Maine, M.J.; Forster, B.P.; Waugh, R.; Powell, W. (1998) Inter- and intra-specific somatic hybridisation in potato and molecular characterisation of hybrids using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers., In: Naqvi, S.S.M. (ed.). New Genetical Approaches to Crop Improvement. Atomic Energy Research Centre, Tando Jam 70060, Pakistan, pp605-618.
  • Lanham, P.; Fennell, S.; Mcnicol, P.A.; Forster, B.P.; Waugh, R.; Powell, W. (1998) The development of RAPD markers in Arachis., In: Naqvi, S.S.M. (ed.). New Genetical Approaches to Crop Improvement. Atomic Energy Research Centre, Tando Jam 70060, Pakistan, pp595-604
  • Russell, J.R.; Hosein, F.; Johnson, E.; Forster, B.P.; Powell, W.; Waugh, R. (1998) The use of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA to discriminate between closely related Theobroma cacao genotypes., In: Naqvi, S.S.M. (ed.). New Genetical Approaches to Crop Improvement. Atomic Energy Research Centre. Tambo Jam 70060, Pakistan, 579-584.
  • Waugh, R.; Russell, J.R. (1998) Screening for useful variation: RAPD markers., In: Karp, A. & Issaci, P.G. (eds.). Molecular tools for screening Biodiversity: Plants and Animals. Springer, The Netherlands, Chapter 23, pp459-463.
  • Thomas, W.T.B.; Russell, J.R.; Bonar, N.; Booth, A.; Fuller, J.D.; Lawrence, P.; Macaulay, M.; Ramsay, L.; Waugh, R.; Powell, W. (1997) Simple sequence repeats SSRs and QTL mapping in barley crosses.., In: H. Buerstmayer & P. Ruckenbauer (eds.). Application of Marker Aided Selection in Cereal Breeding Programs. Eucarpia Section Cereals Meeting. Tulln, Austria, 28-29.
  • Russell, J.R.; Milbourne, D.; Waugh, R. (1997) Comparison of PCR marker systems to examine genetic diversity., In: Karp, A., Isaac, P.G. & Ingram, D.S. (eds.). Molecular Tools for Screening Biodiversity: Plants and Animals. Chapman and Hall.
  • Hayes, P.; Chen, F.Q.; Corey, A.; Pan, A.H.; Chen, T.H.H.; Baird, E.; Powell, W.; Thomas, W.T.B.; Waugh, R.; Bedo, Z.; Karsai, I.; Blake, T.; Oberthur, L. (1997) The Dicktoo x Morex Population - A model for dissecting components of winterhardiness in barley., In: Li, P.H. & Chen, T.H.H. (eds.). Plant Cold Hardiness. Plenum Press. New York, pp77-87.
  • Van De Ven, W.T.G.; Duncan, N.; Ramsay, G.; Phillips, M.S.; Powell, W.; Waugh, R. (1996) Genetic variation and systematics in relationships in Vicia., In: Pickersgill, B. & Lock, J.M. (eds.). Advances in Legume Systematics 8: Legumes of Economic Importance. Royal Botanic Gardens. Kew, pp31-40
  • van den Berg, J.; Chasalow, S.; Waugh, R. (1996) RFLP analysis of plant nuclear genomes: Isolation of markers, construction linkage maps and detection of linkage in plant molecular biology., In: Clark, M. (ed.). Plant Molecular Biology. Springer Verlag, Heidelberg, pp343-397.
  • Russell, J.R.; Hosein, F.; Johnson, E.; Van der Ven, W.T.G.; Waugh, R.; Powell, W. (1995) The use of RAPD markers to genetically differentiate between cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) populations., In: Baradat, A.M.S., Adams, W.T., Muller-Stack, G. (eds.). Population Genetics and Conservation of Forest Trees. Kugler Publications, pp135-138.

  • Thomas, W.T.B.; Comadran, J.; Ramsay, L.; Shaw, P.; Marshall, D.F.; Newton, A.C.; O'Sullivan, D.; Cockram, J.; Mackay, I.; Bayles, R.; White, J.; Kearsey, M.J.; Luo, Z.; Wang, M.; Tapsell, C.; Harrap, D.; Werner, P.; Klose, S.; Bury, P.; Wroth, J.; Argilllier, O.; Habgood, R.; Glew, M.; Bochard, A-M.; Gymer, P.; Vequaud, D.; Christerson, T.; Allvin, B,; Davies, N.; Broadbent, R.; Brosnan, J.; Bringhurst, T.; Booer, C.; Waugh, R. (2014) Association genetics of UK elite barley (AGOUEB)., Final Project Report to HGCA, No 528, 125pp.
  • Ramsay, L.; Thomas, W.T.B.; Comadran, J.; Marshall, D.F.; Shaw, P.; Waugh, R. (2011) Genetic diversity in modern barley varieties., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2010, pp23-24.
  • Russell, J.R.; Dawson, I.K.; Booth, A.; Flavell, A.J.; Steffenson, B.J.; Weltzien, E.; Ceccarelli, S.; Waugh, R. (2010) Relationship between genetic distances and geographic distances among populations of barley landraces., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2009, pp20-21.
  • Waugh, R. (2009) Genetics., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2008, pp19-25.
  • Druka, A.; Potokina, E.; Kearsey, M.J.; Luo, Z.W.; Waugh, R. (2008) The genetics of gene expression., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2007, pp16-17.
  • Waugh, R. (2008) Genetics., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2007, p11-13.
  • Ramsay, L.; Rostoks, N.; Marshall, D.F.; Mudie, S.; Close, T.J.; Waugh, R. (2006) Breeding facilitates whole genome LD-mapping., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2006, pp16-17.
  • Waugh, R. (2006) Genetics., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2006, pp9-11.
  • Bryan, G.J.; McLean, K.; Waugh, R.; Spooner, D.M.; Ramsay, G. (2005) A single domestication for cultivated potato., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2004/2005, pp16-17.
  • Waugh, R. (2005) Genetics., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2004/2005, pp13-15.
  • Davies, H.V.; Waugh, R. (2004) Genes to products., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2003/2004, pp135-137.
  • Macaulay, M.; Russell, J.R.; Ramsay, L.; Marshall, D.F.; Powell, W.; Waugh, R.; Thomas, W.T.B. (2004) Lessons from barley recommended lists., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2003/2004, pp144-145.
  • Ramsay, L.; Caldwell, K.; Russell, J.R.; Macaulay, M.; Thomas, W.T.B.; Powell, W.; Waugh, R. (2003) Linkage disequilibrium in barley., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2002/2003, p114.
  • Davies, H.V.; Viola, R.; Waugh, R. (2003) Genes to Products Overview., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2002/2003, pp106-108.
  • Blok, V.C.; Armstrong, M.R.; Banks, B.; Birch, P.R.J.; Bryan, G.J.; Castelli, L.; Jones, J.T.; Kumar, A.; Phillips, M.S.; Purvis, A.; Ramsay, G.; Waugh, R.; Wishart, J. (2002) Investigating gene expression in nematode-infected roots., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2001/2002, pp122-124.
  • Hackett, C.A.; Bradshaw, J.E.; Luo, Z.W.; Stewart, H.E.; Pande, B.; Bryan, G.J.; Waugh, R.; McNicol, J.W. (2002) QTL mapping in autotetraploid species: theory and application to Map QTL affecting blight resistance in potato., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2001/2002, pp159-161.
  • Caldwell, D.; McCallum, N.; Mudie, S.; Hedley, P.E.; Ramsay, L.; Liu, H.; Marshall, D.F.; Waugh, R. (2002) A physical/chemical mutation grid for barley functional genomics., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2001/2002, pp157-158.
  • Bryan, G.J.; Milbourne, D.; Isidore, E.; McNicoll, J.; Tierney, I.; Purvis, A.; Williamson, S.; Ramsay, L.; McLean, K.; Waugh, R. (2002) Application of a potato UHD genetic linkage map for BAC landing and contig initiation in a region of linkage group V., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2001/2002, pp143-146.
  • Forster, B.P.; Bengough, A.G.; Ellis, R.P.; Thomas, W.T.B.; Clark, S.; Gordon, D.C.; El-Meniae, R.; Keith, R.; Waugh, R.; Hedley, P.E.; Daniell, T.J. (2002) Genomics of the root-soil interface., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2001/2002, pp153-154.
  • Davies, H.V.; Waugh, R. (2002) Genes to Products., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2001/2002, pp133-134.

Scientific posters/conferences

AttachmentSize
File An update on the GERMINATE project the database and tools 791.72 KB
File The Genotype Visualisation Tool (GVT) 1.07 MB
File The Plant Genomics Database Infrastructure at the Scottish Crop Research Institute 424.92 KB
File Barley SNP Databases and GVT 2.05 MB
File The Visualization and Analysis of Barley SNPs 817.23 KB
File Barley Mutant and SNP Databases at SCRI 993.59 KB
File Germinate 2 A Platform for Storage and Analysis of Experimental Plant Data 4.72 MB
File Bioinformatics Resources at the Scottish Crop Research Institute 1.58 MB
File Germinate 2: Storage Visualization and Analysis of High Volume Genotypic Phenotypic and Pedigree Data 992.31 KB
File Levels of intra-specific AFLP diversity in tuber bearing potato species with different breeding systems and ploidy levels 275.19 KB
File Single nucleotide polymorphism discovery and mapping in barley 4.01 MB
File Allele-Specific Differential Gene Expression in Two Barley Cultivars and Reciprocal F1 Hybrids 2.87 MB
File Genome-wide SNP discovery and linkage analysis in barley based on genes responsive to abiotic stress 4.63 MB
File Barley Nec1 gene is a homologue of the Arabidopsis Hlm1 encoding the cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel 4 4.27 MB
File Association Genetics of UK Elite Barley 877.79 KB
File Steptoe x Morex - the weakest link? 1.11 MB
File Association Genetics of UK Elite Barley (AGOUEB) 348.03 KB
File Two row-Spring barley Association Panel - A resource for fine-mapping saccharification yield and crop biofuel-related traits 1.66 MB
File Genetic dissection of barley morphology and development 6.63 MB
File Transcript-Level Variation in Barley Seedling Leaves Challenged with Puccinia hordei and the Molecular Basis of Partial Resistance to Leaf Rust 1.16 MB
File Manipulating meiosis: crossovers from Arabidopsis to crops 772.81 KB
File Control of Meiotic Recombination in Barley 894.59 KB
File Meiotic Recombination in Barley
881.97 KB

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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.