Biology Seminar - Dr. Jeremy Searle

Stories from unwanted travellers - the history of the world according to stowaway mice

Small mammals have sometimes been able to travel incredible distances as unwanted guests on boats. House mice have been spread globally by humans and molecular markers can be used to track their movement. Once it is known where house mice came from and went to, it can be assumed that the people who unintentionally took them made the same journey. Thus, we are using house mice to tell us about human history, including prehistoric movements around the Indian Ocean, and Viking colonization history. We are also using house shrews; and particularly house/sewer rats for their role in pathogen transfer.