Collections & Research Staff
Oliver Haddrath
Technician
Ornithology
B.Sc., University of Toronto, 1985
M.Sc. (Honours), University of Toronto, 2001
Oliver Haddrath is a research technician in the ornithology division of the Department of Natural History at the ROM.
Oliver’s career at the ROM began 18 years ago. He is responsible for the operations of one of the ROM's two molecular genetic research laboratories, where the latest DNA technologies are used to study the phylogenetic relationships among different species, to examine the genetics of rare and endangered animals, and to unravel the mysteries of the past using ancient DNA.
Oliver graduated from the University of Toronto with a specialist degree in molecular biology and molecular genetics. His Master's degree focused on the diversification of the ratites, a group of large flightless birds including Ostriches, Emus, Cassowaries, Kiwis and Rheas, which are found spread across the southern hemisphere. Using complete mitochondrial DNA genome sequences from these birds, he determined how their distribution has been shaped by continental drift over the last 80 million years. Results from this study, one of the first to include complete mitochondrial genomes for extinct species, were published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of London and ROM magazine . He is currently working on his Ph.D., developing new molecular markers to look further back in time to the earliest evolutionary events surrounding the origin of birds.
Recent Publications
| 2010 | Schroeder, J., R. Kentie, M. van der Velde, J.C.E.W. Hooijeijer, C. Both, O. Haddrath, A.J. Baker, and T. Piersma. "Linking intronic polymorphism on the CHD1-Z gene with fitness correlates in Black-tailed Godwits Limosa l. limosa." IBIS, 152(2): 368-377. |
| 2010 | Baker, A.J., C.M. Miskelly and O. Haddrath. "Species limits and population differentiation in New Zealand snipes (Scolopacidae: Coenocorypha)." Conservation Genetics, 11(4): 1363-1374. |
| 2009 | Verkuil, Y.I., K. Trimbos, O. Haddrath, A.J. Baker and T. Piersma. "Characterization of polymorphic mircrosatellite DNA markers in the Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa: Aves). Molecular Ecology Resources, 9(5): 1415-1418. |
| 2006 | Baker, A.J., S.L. Pereira, O. Haddrath and K. Edge. "Multiple gene evidence for expansion of extant penguins out of Antarctica in response to global cooling." Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 273: 11-17. |
| 2005 | Baker, A.J., L. Huynen, O. Haddrath, C.D. Millar, and D.M. Lambert. “Reconstructing the tempo and mode of evolution in an extinct clade of birds with ancient DNA: The giant moas of New Zealand.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 102(23): 8257-8262. |
| 2001 | Haddrath, O. and A.J. Baker. "Complete mitochondrial DNA genome sequences of extinct birds: ratite phylogenetics and the vicariance biogeography hypothesis." Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Biological Series, 268(1470): 939-945. |
Publications List (PDF)
ROM Images
Birds
Podcasts
Flightless Birds
October 05, 2006
Technician Oliver Haddrath discusses the genetic relationship of large flightless birds (third episode of three). (Episode 3 of 3)
Video Podcast (10 MB, 1m 44s)
Written Transcript (PDF)
DNA Sequencing
September 21, 2006
Technician Oliver Haddrath speaks about the process of sequencing DNA, and introduces the project studying bird origins and the extinct moa of New Zealand. (Episode 2 of 3)
Video Podcast (16 MB, 2m 40s)
Written Transcript (PDF)
DNA Research
September 06, 2006
Technician Oliver Haddrath introduces DNA work at the Museum (first episode of three)
Video Podcast (20 MB, 3m 22s)
Written Transcript (PDF)
Contact Information
Royal Ontario Museum
Department of Natural History
100 Queen's Park
Toronto, ON
M5S 2C6
Tel: 416.586.5521
Fax: 416.586.5553
E-mail: oliverh@rom.on.ca
Oliver in Fiordland, New Zealand, 1995. © O. Haddrath.
Holding a Little Blue Penguin in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1995. © O. Haddrath.
