PUBLICATIONS
Bold names indicate lab members.
S Wang, KCH Lo, VWT Shiu, CYC Hung, ESK Poon, C Newman, CD Buesching, SYW Sin (accepted) Rosy-faced lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) are capable of associative symbol learning and inference-based quantity discrimination. Animal Behaviour. Link
G Chen & SYW Sin (2025) Genomic signatures and demographic history of the widespread and critically endangered yellow-breasted bunting. Molecular Ecology. PDF Link
PY Huang*, ESK Poon*, LY Chan, DK Lam, IWY So, YH Sung & SYW Sin (2025) Omnivorous diets of sympatric duck species in a subtropical East Asia wetland unveiled by multi-marker DNA metabarcoding. bioRxiv. (*Equal contribution) Link
X Wei, ESK Poon, JCT Chung, DTC Chan, CT Shek, WC Tsui, H Zhao & SYW Sin (2025) Foraging niche partitioning of three Myotis bat species and marine fish consumption by Myotis pilosus in a subtropical East Asian region. Environmental DNA. 7(2): e70088. PDF Link
JN Beck, DS Baetscher, C Tobin, SV Edwards, SYW Sin, S Fitzgerald, VJ Tuttle, J Peschon, WA Larson (2025) Quantifying impacts of seabird bycatch using genetic assignment: A case study of Black-footed Albatross in U.S. fisheries. Biological Conservation. 303: 110965. PDF Link
WKW Tsang, ESK Poon, C Buesching, C Newman & SYW Sin (2025) Investigating the use of odour and colour foraging cues by rosy-faced lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) using deep-learning based behavioural analysis. Animal Behaviour. 221: 123085. PDF Link
E Osipova*, MC Ko*, KM Petricek, SYW Sin, T Brown, S Winkler, M Pippel, J Jarrells, S Weiche, MB Mosbech, F Taborsak-Lines, C Wang, O Contreras, RA Olsen, P Ewels, D Mendez-Aranda, A Gaede, K Sadanandan, GW Low, A Monte, N Ballerstädt, NM Adreani, L Mentesana, A von Bayern, AR Guevara, SV Edwards, C Frankl-Vilches, H Kuhl, A Bakker, M Gahr, D Altshuler, W Buttemer, M Schupp, M Baldwin†, M Hiller†, T Sackton† (2024) Convergent and lineage-specific genomic changes contribute to adaptations in sugar-consuming birds. bioRxiv. (*Equal contribution; †co-last) Link
R Arbore*, S Barbosa*, J Brejcha*, Y Ogawa, Y Liu, MPJ Nicolaï, P Pereira, SJ Sabatino, A Cloutier, ESK Poon, CI Marques, P Andrade, G Debruyn, S Afonso, R Afonso, SG Roy, U Abdu, RJ Lopes, P Mojzeš, P Marsik, SYW Sin, MA White, PM Araújo, JC Corbo & M Carneiro (2024) A molecular mechanism for bright color variation in parrots. Science. 386(6721): eadp7710. (*Equal contribution) PDF Link
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Press release: HKU (English), HKU (Chinese), HKU Science Faculty.
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Covered by Croucher News, Science, EurekAlert!, ScienceDaily, Phys.org, Smithsonian Magazine, Royal Society of Chemistry, The Conversation, Science News, Mingpao, Hong Kong Economic Journal, EJTech, Wenweipo, ScienceNews, ScienceAlert, BioQuick News, MirageNews, NPR, BHKAEC, Diario Estrategia, MaisConhecer, c&en, MARE, Charles University News, Microbiology Study, LNG
A Cloutier, DTC Chan, ESK Poon & SYW Sin (2024) The genetic consequences of historic climate change on the contemporary population structure of a widespread temperate North American songbird. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 201: 108216. PDF Link
JCK Ko, YWY Choi, ESK Poon, N Wyre, JLL Go, LLM Poon & SYW Sin (2024) Prevalence and genotype of Chlamydia psittaci in pet birds in Hong Kong. Plos One. 19(9): e0306528. PDF Link
DK Lam, ESK Poon & SYW Sin (2024) Temporal characterization of the viral load of psittacine beak and feather disease virus in rosy-faced lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis). Birds. PDF Link
B Wan*, G Chen*, ESK Poon, HS Fung, A Lau & SYW Sin (2024) Environmental factors and host sex influence the skin microbiome structure of Hong Kong newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis) in a coldspot of chytridiomycosis in subtropical East Asia. Integrative Zoology. (*Equal contribution) PDF Link
I Ricchetti, T Taucher, R Loebick, SYW Sin, C Palacios & S Lamichhaney (2024) Gene expression variation in geographically diverse populations of two North American songbird species. Frontiers in Bird Science. 3:p.1382657. PDF Link
JCK Ko, YWY Choi, ESK Poon, N Wyre & SYW Sin (2024) Prevalence, genotypes, and infection risk factors of psittacine beak and feather disease virus and budgerigar fledgling disease virus in captive birds of Hong Kong. Archives of Virology. 169(91). PDF Link
F Ke, H van der Zwan, ESK Poon, A Cloutier, D Van den Abeele, R van der Sluis, SYW Sin (2024) Convergent evolution of parrot plumage coloration. PNAS Nexus. 3(3):pgae107. PDF Link
SYW Sin, F Ke, G Chen, PY Huang, E Enbody, J Karubian, MS Webster & SV Edwards (2024) Genetic basis and evolution of structural color polymorphism in an Australian songbird. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 41(3):msae046. PDF Link
KR Sadanandan, MC Ko, GW Low, M Gahr, SV Edwards, M Hiller, TB Sackton, FE Rheindt, SYW Sin & MW Baldwin (2023) Convergence in hearing-related genes between echolocating birds and mammals. PNAS. 120(43): e2307340120. PDF Link
S Huynh, A Cloutier, G Chen, DTC Chan, DK Lam, KP Huyvaert, F Sato, SV Edwards & SYW Sin (2023) Whole-genome analyses reveal past population fluctuations and low genetic diversities of the North Pacific albatrosses. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 40(7):msad155. PDF Link
Y Li, H Jiao, SYW Sin, R Wang, SJ Rossiter & H Zhao (2023) Common ancestors of bats were omnivorous suggested by resurrection of ancestral sweet receptors. Science Bulletin. 68(16): 1748–1751. PDF Link
G Chen, A Lau, B Wan, ESK Poon, HS Fung, WH Lee, YH Sung & SYW Sin (2023) Occurrence of pathogenic chytrid fungi Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans and B. dendrobatidis in the Hong Kong newt (Paramesotriton hongkongensis) and other wild and imported amphibians in a subtropical Asian region. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. PDF Link
S Huynh, A Cloutier & SYW Sin (2023) Museomics and phylogenomics of lovebirds (Psittaciformes, Psittaculidae, Agapornis) using low-coverage whole-genome sequencing. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 185: 107822. PDF Link
S Khalil, ED Enbody, C Frankl, JF Welklin, RE Koch, MB Toomey, SYW Sin, SV Edwards, M Gahr, H Schwabl, MS Webster & J Karubian (2023) Testosterone coordinates gene expression across different tissues to produce carotenoid-based red ornamentation. Molecular Biology and Evolution. PDF Link
NA Ismail, CSY Yong, SYW Sin & G Annavi (2023) Low diversity of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes in Endangered Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus). Zoological Studies. PDF Link
ESK Poon, G Chen, HY Tsang, CT Shek, WC Tsui, H Zhao, B Guénard & SYW Sin (2023) Species richness of bat flies and their associations with host bats in a subtropical East Asian region. Parasites & Vectors. 16(37). PDF Link
DK Lam, AC Frantz, T Burke, E Geffen & SYW Sin (2023) Both selection and drift drive the spatial pattern of adaptive genetic variation in a wild mammal. Evolution. 77(1): 221–238. PDF Link
SE McMillan, ATC Wong, SSY Tang, EYH Yau, T Gomersalla, PYH Wong, AKH Vu, SYW Sin, BCH Hau & TC Bonebrake (2022) Spraints demonstrate small population size and reliance on fishponds for Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in Hong Kong. Conservation Science and Practice. PDF Link
J Wu, L Zhang, C Shen, SYW Sin & H Zhao (2022) Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals molecular adaptations underlying distinct immunity and inverted resting posture in bats. Integrative Zoology. PDF Link
PY Huang*, ESK Poon*, LY Chan, DTC Chan, S Huynh, IWY So, YH Sung & SYW Sin (2022) Dietary diversity of multiple shorebird species in an Asian subtropical wetland unveiled by DNA metabarcoding. Environmental DNA. 4(6): 1381–1396. (*Equal contribution) PDF Link Cover
JT Burley*, SCM Orzechowski*, SYW Sin & SV Edwards (2022) Whole-genome phylogeography of the Blue-faced honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis) and discovery and characterization of a neo-Z chromosome. Molecular Ecology. (*Equal contribution) PDF Link Cover
ED Enbody, SYW Sin, J Boersma, H Schwabl, SV Edwards, MS Webster & J Karubian (2022) The evolutionary history and mechanistic basis of female ornamentation in a tropical songbird. Evolution. PDF Link
SL Jennings, BA Hoover, SYW Sin & SE Ebeler (2022) Feather chemicals contain information about the major histocompatibility complex in a highly scented seabird. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 289: 20220567. PDF Link
ATC Wong, DK Lam, ESK Poon, DTC Chan & SYW Sin (2022) Intra-specific copy number variation of MHC class II genes in the Siamese fighting fish. Immunogenetics. PDF Link
SYW Sin*, A Cloutier*, G Nevitt & SV Edwards (2022) Olfactory receptor subgenome and expression in a highly olfactory procellariiform seabird. Genetics. 220(2): iyab210. (*Equal contribution) PDF Link
BY Lee, K Wakabayashi, SYW Sin, S Ohtsuka & LM Tsang (2021) DNA Metabarcoding revealed interspecific dietary difference and prey selectivity in juvenile Horseshoe Crabs Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda & Tachypleus tridentatus from Hong Kong. Frontiers in Marine Science. 8: p.1436. PDF Link
PY Huang*, ESK Poon*, ATC Wong, IWY So, YH Sung & SYW Sin (2021) DNA metabarcoding reveals the dietary composition in the endangered black-faced spoonbill. Scientific Reports. 11: 18773. (*Equal contribution) PDF Link
DTC Chan*, ESK Poon*, ATC Wong & SYW Sin (2021) Global trade in parrots – influential factors of trade and implications for conservation. Global Ecology and Conservation. 30: e01784. (*Equal contribution) PDF Link
Y Toda, MC Ko, Q Liang, ET Miller, A Rico-Guevara, T Nakagita, A Sakakibara, K Uemura, T Sackton, T Hayakawa, SYW Sin, Y Ishimaru, T Misaka, P Oteiza, J Crall, SV Edwards, W Buttemer, S Matsumura & MW Baldwin (2021) Early origin of sweet perception in the songbird radiation. Science. 373: 226–231. PDF Link
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See also the Perspective.
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Press release: Max Planck Society, HKU (English), HKU (Chinese).
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Covered by the Economist, the Atlantic, Florida News Times, Phys.org, California News Times, Sci-News, EurekAlert!, Hong Kong Commercial Daily, Oriental Daily, HKU Bulletin.
SYW Sin, B Hoover, G Nevitt & SV Edwards (2021) Demographic history, not mating system, explains signatures of inbreeding and inbreeding depression in a large outbred population. The American Naturalist. 197(6). doi.org/10.1086/714079. PDF Link
SYW Sin, L Lu & SV Edwards (2020) De Novo assembly of the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) genome reveals candidate regulatory regions for sexually dichromatic red plumage coloration. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics 10(10): 3541–3548. PDF Link
DK Lam, SYW Sin (2020) Development and characterization of microsatellite markers in Rosy-faced and other lovebirds (Agapornis spp.) using next-generation sequencing. Molecular Biology Reports. 47(8): 6417–6427. PDF Link
E Dierickx, SYW Sin, HPJ van Veelen, MdL Brooke, Y Liu, SV Edwards & SH Martin (2020) Genetic diversity, demographic history and neo-sex chromosomes in the Critically Endangered Raso lark. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 287, 20192613. PDF Link
L Xu, SYW Sin, P Grayson, SV Edwards, TB Sackton (2019) Evolutionary dynamics of sex chromosomes of paleognathous birds. Genome Biology and Evolution, 11(8), pp.2376-2390. PDF Link
B Hoover, M Alcaide, S Jennings, SYW Sin, SV Edwards, G Nevitt (2018) Ecology can inform genetics: Disassortative mating contributes to MHC polymorphism in Leach's storm‐petrels (Oceanodroma leucorhoa). Molecular Ecology 2018; 27(16): 3371–3385. PDF Link
P Grayson, SYW Sin, T Sackton, SV Edwards (2017) Comparative genomics as a foundation for evo-devo studies in birds. In Avian and Reptilian Developmental Biology (pp. 11-46). Humana Press, New York, NY. PDF Link
YW Sin, C Newman, HL Dugdale, C Buesching, M-E Mannarelli, G Annavi, T Burke, DW Macdonald (2016) No compensatory relationship between the innate and adaptive immune system in wild-living European badgers. PLoS One 11(10): e0163773. PDF Link
CD Buesching, HV Tinnesand, YW Sin, F Rosell, T Burke, DW Macdonald (2016) Coding of Group Odor in the Subcaudal Gland Secretion of the European Badger Meles meles: Chemical Composition and Pouch Microbiota. In Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 13 (pp. 45-62). Springer International Publishing. PDF Link
YW Sin, G Annavi, C Newman, C Buesching, T Burke, DW Macdonald, HL Dugdale (2015) MHC class II assortative mate choice in European badgers (Meles meles). Molecular Ecology 24 (12): 3138–3150. PDF Link
YW Sin*, NJ Kenny*, Z Qu, KW Chan, KWS Chan, SPS Cheong, RWT Leung, TF Chan, WG Bendena, KH Chu, SS Tobe, JHL Hui (2015) Identification of putative ecdysteroid and juvenile hormone pathway genes in the shrimp Neocaridina denticulata. General and Comparative Endocrinology 214: (167–176). (*Equal contribution) PDF Link
N Kenny, YW Sin, A Hayward, J Paps, KH Chu, JHL Hui (2015) The phylogenetic utility and functional constraint of microRNA flanking sequences. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 282: 20142983. PDF Link
YW Sin, G Annavi, HL Dugdale, C Newman, T Burke & DW Macdonald (2014) Pathogen burden, co-infection and major histocompatibility complex variability in the European badger (Meles meles). Molecular Ecology 23(20): 5072–5088. PDF Link
NJ Kenny*, YW Sin*, X Shen, Q Zhe, W Wang, TF Chan, SS Tobe, SM Shimeld, KH Chu & J Hui (2014) Genomic sequence and experimental tractability of a new decapod shrimp model, Neocaridina denticulata. Marine drugs 12(3): 1419–1437. (*Equal contribution) PDF Link
G Annavi, C Newman, HL Dugdale, CD Buesching, YW Sin, T Burke & DW Macdonald (2014) Neighbouring-group composition and within-group relatedness drive extra-group paternity rate in the European badger (Meles meles). Journal of Evolutionary Biology 27(10): 2191–2203. PDF Link
K Bilham, YW Sin, C Newman, CD Buesching & DW Macdonald (2013) An example of life history antecendence in the European badger (Meles meles): rapid development of juvenile antioxidant capacity, from plasma vit-E analogue. Ethology Ecology & Evolution. PDF Link
YW Sin, H Dugdale, C Newman, DW Macdonald & T Burke (2012) Evolution of MHC class I genes in the European badger (Meles meles). Ecology and Evolution 2(7): 1644–1662. PDF Link
YW Sin, CD Buesching, T Burke & DW Macdonald (2012) Molecular characterization of the microbial communities in the subcaudal gland secretion of the European badger (Meles meles). FEMS Microbiology Ecology 81(3): 648–659. PDF Link
YW Sin, H Dugdale, C Newman, DW Macdonald & T Burke (2012) MHC class II genes in the European badger (Meles meles): characterization, patterns of variation, and transcription analysis. Immunogenetics 64(4): 313–327. PDF Link
R Lizundia, C Newman, CD Buesching, D Ngugi, D Blake, YW Sin, DW Macdonald, A Wilson & D McKeever (2011) Evidence for a role of the host-specific flea (Paraceras melis) in the transmission of Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) pestanai to the European badger. PLoS ONE 6(2): e16977. PDF Link
YW Sin, C Yau & KH Chu (2009) Morphological and genetic differentiation of two loliginid squid, Uroteuthis (Photololigo) chinensis and U. (P.) edulis (Cephalopoda: Loliginidae), in Asia. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 369: 22–30. PDF Link
YW Sin, KH Chu & C Yau (2009) Isolation and characterization of highly polymorphic microsatellites in the mitre squid, Uroteuthis (Photololigo) chinensis. Molecular Ecology Resources 9: 1460−1559. PDF Link
YW Sin, JCY Lai, PKL Ng & KH Chu (2009) Phylogeny of Dorippoidea (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) inferred from three mitochondrial genes. Invertebrate Systematics 23: 223-230. PDF Link
M Mitsuhashi, YW Sin, HC Lei, TY Chan & KH Chu (2007) Systematic status of the caridean shrimp families Gnathophyllidae Dana and Hymenoceridae Ortmann (Crustacea, Decapoda, Caridea): A preliminary examination based on nuclear rDNA sequences. Invertebrate Systematics 21: 613−622. PDF Link
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