Genetics and Genomics MSc (Res)

Research in the field of Genetics and Genomics aims to advance the understanding of complex animal systems and the development of improved predictive models through the application of numerical and computational approaches to the analysis of the genome.<br/><br/>This includes analyses and interpretation, modelling, and prediction of complex animal systems at multiple levels, from the sequence and behaviour of DNA, RNA species, proteins and other molecules, through cellular and gene networks, tissues and organs right up to whole organisms and interacting populations of organisms.<br/><br/>The biology and traits of interest include:<br/><br/><br/>* growth and development<br/><br/><br/>* body composition<br/><br/><br/>* feed efficiency<br/><br/><br/>* reproductive performance<br/><br/><br/>* greenhouse gas emissions and other indices of sustainability<br/><br/><br/>* environmental adaptation<br/><br/><br/>* responses to infectious disease and the interactions between host and pathogen<br/><br/><br/>* population responses to selection<br/><br/><br/>* inherited diseases<br/><br/><br/>* behavioural and welfare-associated traits<br/><br/><br/>Research ranges from basic bioscience, computational and mathematical biology to strategic research intended to address grand challenges, e.g. food security.<br/><br/>Research is focussed on, but not restricted to, target species of agricultural importance including:<br/><br/><br/>* cattle<br/><br/><br/>* pigs<br/><br/><br/>* poultry<br/><br/><br/>* sheep<br/><br/><br/>* farmed fish such as salmon or tilapia<br/><br/><br/>* other aquaculture species such as oysters and mussels<br/><br/><br/>* companion animals<br/><br/><br/>* organisms of emerging agricultural interest, for example insect species<br/><br/><br/>These are studied together with associated pathogenic and commensal microorganisms, parasites and vectors that infect, colonise, or interact with these hosts.<br/><br/>The availability of genome sequences (both new and pre-existing) and the associated analysis toolkits for genome assembly, annotation, and interrogation enable genetics and genomics research in all these species.<br/><br/>Expertise includes:<br/><br/><br/>* genetics (molecular, quantitative)<br/><br/><br/>* physiology (neuroendocrinology, immunology)<br/><br/><br/>* ‘omics (genomics, functional genomics, metabolomics, proteomics, epigenomics, metagenomics etc.)<br/><br/><br/>Particular strengths are in computational and mathematical biology (quantitative genetics, epidemiology, bioinformatics, phylogenetics, modelling).<br/><br/>(Revised 26 October 2023 to include more detail on the research topics)