Mink are commercially produced for their beautiful fur and Denmark is one of the leading countries when it comes to the production of high-quality mink skin. Research into mink DNA has contributed to the understanding of the genetic background for traits important for production and has provided mink producers with valuable tools for improving breeding.

Gene technology is undergoing fast development at present and Janne P. Thirstrup applied different methods to analyse mink genetics in her studies. She illustrated how different methods can be used to gain an understanding of the traits and consequently improve mink production. Litter size is important for the number of skins produced and Janne P. Thirstrup analysed the effect of heterosis from heterozygosity calculated from pedigree data.

Hair structure is important for the quality of the fur and Janne P. Thirstrup used microsatellites to identify genomic areas that influence guard hair and underfur. She also identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to create a panel of mink-specific DNA markers for analysing genetic variation in mink populations.

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

Time: Wednesday 23 April 2014 at 12.30
Place: Lecture Theatre, AU Foulum
Title of dissertation: Litter size, fur quality and genetic analyses of American mink
Contact information: Janne Thirstrup, janne.thirstrup@agrsci.dk,+45 2444 1026
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Hossain Farid, Department of Plant and Animal Sciences, Dalhousie University, Canada
Principal Research Scientist Ismo Stranden, Biotechnology and Food Research, MTT Agrifood Research Finland
Associate Professor Ernst-Martin Füchtbauer (chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Professor Just Jensen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Co-supervisors:
Professor Cino Pertoldi, Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University
Associate Professor Vivi H. Nielsen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Head of Research Peter Foged Larsen, Kopenhagen Research, Agro Food Park 15, Aarhus
Language: The 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.