Título: In search of genetic signature of adaptation in livestock
Palestrante: Prof. Olivier Hanotte (University of Nottingham, UK)
Data: 06.09.13
Hora: 14h
Local: Sala 201 - Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evoltiva - IB/USP

Research Summary

The research group is focusing on the unraveling of the genetic polymorphisms controlling gene expression in eukaryotes. We use livestock species as a model and we studied both Mendelian traits and quantitative trait loci. Our model includes livestock population selected intensively by human (productivity traits and morphological traits) as well as indigenous population under natural selection (e.g. survival traits such as disease resistances). We use genome wide molecular approaches (e.g. sequencing and SNP typing) to detect signature of selection. A major element of our work
is the understanding of the genetic history of our model species and livestock genetic resources characterization is an important component of the project.

Ongoing research activities include the mapping Mendelian traits in traditional chicken breeds (PhD project), the understanding of the evolutionary history of indigenous Arabian Peninsula camel Camelus dromedarius populations (PhD project), the mapping and unravelling of the genetic history of indigenous chicken in Africa and Asia, and the study of the genetic adaptation to infectious diseases in indigenous zebu cattle Bos indicus of western Kenya and chicken population of Ethiopia (PhD project).