The occurrence of harmful mutations in the commercial cattle population has increased due to increased inbreeding. Although the Holstein breed is the main Danish cattle breed, harmful mutations have been identified as a consequence of inbreeding.  

In his PhD studies, Ashutosh Das mined harmful mutations in Danish cattle using a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based reverse genetic approach. He identified five potential harmful mutations in the Danish Holstein cattle breed.

The new research findings provide a potential for the use of NGS-based reverse genetic approach in identifying harmful mutations in cattle.

The PhD degree was completed at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG), Science and Technology, Aarhus University.

This résumé is prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Thursday 10 December 2015, at 11.00
Place: Auditorium, Aarhus University, Blicher Allé 20, 8830 Tjele
Title of dissertation: Mining of  lethal recessive genetic variation in Danish cattle
Contact information: Ashutosh Das, e-mail: Ashutosh.das@mbg.au.dk, tel.: +45 87157826 mobile: +45 71652340
Members of the assessment committee:
Associate Professor Kåre Lehmann Nielsen, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University Researcher Bjørn Høyheim, Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
Associate Professor Knud Erik Larsen (chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG), Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Senior Scientist Lars-Erik Holm, MBG, Aarhus University
Co-supervisor:
Professor Christian Bendixen, MBG, Aarhus University
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English.

The defence is public.
The dissertation is available for reading at the Graduate School of Science and Technology/GSST, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1520, rooms 128-134, 8000 Aarhus C.