During her studies, Beatriz explored the benefits of haplotype blocks (haploblocks) as covariates to genomic prediction of complex traits . A method to build haploblocks was proposed by grouping the genetic markers that were closely linked, and the resulting haploblocks were applied to predict traits in young bulls of Nordic dairy cattle populations. After verifying that haploblocks as alternative to individual genetic markers was capable to increase prediction reliabilities, methods to use haploblocks were further explored. Selection of haploblocks that were highly influential to predict traits and the use of haploblocks on a population that combined cattle breeds allowed improvement to the prediction accuracy of complex traits. Beatriz made a broad investigation on different usages of haplotypes as predictors, being of great contribution to improvement of genomic prediction and the future studies that involve such genomic variables. Furthermore, an innovative method to evaluate genomic prediction results is proposed, based on statistical methods, bringing a new perspective to comparisons of genomic prediction methods.

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

This résumé is prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Tuesday 16 December 2014 at 10.00
Place: Auditorium, Research Center Foulum, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele
Title of dissertation: Genomic prediction of dairy cattle traits using haplotype blocks from high density marker data
Contact information: Beatriz Castro Dias Cuyabano, e-mail: beatriz.cuyabano@mbg.au.dk tel.: +45 8715 4987
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Dirk-Jan de Koning, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
Professor Haja Kadarmideen, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Professor Just Jensen (chair), Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Senior Scientist Guosheng Su, QGG, Deptartment of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Co-supervisor:
Professor Mogens Sandø Lund, Deptartment of Molecular Biology and Genetics, 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 1521, room 112, 8000 Aarhus C.