Amanda Davidson

Research Technician

Research interests

My main research interest is the behavioural mechanisms of olfactory communication, especially kin and individual recognition mechanisms in wild mice. Our group recently identified darcin, a male pheromone responsible for stimulating female memory and sexual attraction to an individual male's odour.

I am currently working on a project addressing the mechanisms underlying kin recognition, and the importance of kinship in cooperative breeding between females.

Education and career

  • ONC Biological Sciences, Stow College, Glasgow (1989 - 1993)
  • HNC Applied Biology, Bell College, Hamilton, (1993 -1995)
  • CAT modules - Ecology, Energy & Plant Science and Vertebrate Physiology and Evolution, Paisley University (1995 -1996)
  • Laboratory Technician , Vet Parasitology Dept, Glasgow University (1988 - 1998)
  • Research Technician, Vet Clinical Science, University of Liverpool (1998 - 2003)
  • Research Technician, Proteomics and Functional Genomics Group, University of Liverpool (2003 - 2008)
  • Research Technician, Mammalian Behaviour & Evolution Group, University of Liverpool (2008 - present)

Publications

Roberts, S.A., Davidson, A.J., McLean, L., Beynon, R.J. & Hurst, J.L. (2012) Pheromonal induction of spatial learning in mice. Science 338: 1462-1465.

Beynon, R.J., Armstrong, S.D., Roberts, S.A., Davidson, A., Simpson, D.M., Turton, M.J., Unsworth, J. & Hurst, J.L. (in press) The application of proteomics to the discovery and quantification of proteins in scent signals. In: Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 12 (Eds. M.L. East & M. Dehnhard). Springer, New York.

Roberts, S.A., Simpson, D.M., Armstrong, S.D., Davidson, A.J., Robertson, D.H., McLean, L., Beynon, R.J. & Hurst, J.L. (2010) Darcin: a male pheromone that stimulates female memory and sexual attraction to an individual male's odour. BMC Biology 8: 75.

Hurst, J.L., Thom, M.D., Cheetham, S.A., Armstrong, S.D., Robertson, D.H., Davidson, A.J., Stockley, P. & Beynon, R.J. (2008) Scent signals of individual genetic identity used in mate choice. Chemical Senses 33, S173.

Davidson, A.J., Hodgkinson, J.E., Proudman, C.J. & Matthews, C.B. (2005) Cytokine responses to Cyathostominae larvae in the equine large intestinal wall. Research in Veterinary Science 78, 169-176.

Matthews, J.B., Davidson, A.J. & Beynon, R.J. (2004) The application of mass spectrometry to identify immunogenic components of excretory/secretory products from adult Dictyocaulus viviparus. Parasitology 128, S43-S47.

Lazari, O., Hussein, A.S., Selkirk, M.E., Davidson, A.J., Thompson, F.J. & Matthews, J.B. (2003) Cloning and expression of two secretory acetylcholinesterases from the bovine lungworm, Dictyocaulus viviparus. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 132, 83-92.

Matthews, J.B., Davidson, A.J., Freeman, K.L. & French, N.P. (2002) Letter to the editor. International Journal for Parasitology 32, 1321.

Davidson, A.J., Edwards, G.B., Proudman, C.J., Cripps, P.J. & Matthews, J.B. (2002) Cytokine mRNA expression pattern in horses with large intestinal disease. Research in Veterinary Science 72, 177-185.

Matthew, J.B., Davidson, A.J., Freeman, K.L. & French, N.P. (2001) Immunisation of cattle with recombinant acetylcholinesterase from Dictyocaulus viviparus and with adult worm ES products. International Journal for Parasitology 31, 307-317.

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