Poems by Roslin scientists about our research on viruses, chickens, bees, genome sequencing and more for World Poetry Day. To celebrate World Poetry Day, scientists at The Roslin Institute have written a series of poems about research conducted at the Institute.For further information about this work, please refer to the “Related links” section at the bottom of this page.A mega virus Image In our lab there is quite a bias,Against cytomegalovirus.“Cyto” means cell,And “mega,” big as hell,This massive disease does inspire us! Image It hurts kids by foetal infection,And causes organ rejection.With disease in spades,Like sight loss in AIDS,You will understand our objection!- By Alex BrownThe genetics of bird flu Image There was a young chicken named StuWho really did not want the fluSo I study his genesTo see what it meansWhen compared to his ducky friend, Hugh- By Dr Jacqueline SmithOne side female and one side male Image There once was a chicken named Sam,Who appeared half-cock and half-hen!This gynandromorphyIs certainly worthy,Of in depth study at Roslin! The determination of sex,In chickens, is rather complex!Not just hormonal,Nor chromosomal,It seems there’s some local effects!- By Alex BrownGenome sequencing Image It’s a metaphor, you see.A pig or a chicken or a humanis a sequence, is a code-script,is a four-dimensional unfoldingthing,is itself and no-one else.It’s complicated, we say,(apologetical)and keep turning,new page, new cipher.- By Dr Martin JohnssonBee health Image There was infectious diseaseAdding to the death of bees!With Institute hives,And work 9-to-5,We might put the Queen at ease!- By Alex BrownRelated linksNew study identifies key molecule for virus replicationGene study set to investigate how flu jumps speciesDr Jacqueline Smith on the genetics of birdsA new high quality reference genome for water buffaloGene study boosts bid to keep British bees safe from disease