Lotus japonicus (Lotus) is a model legume and extensive research has been done but mainly limited to genes identification involved in legume-rhizobium symbiosis.  For a model legume, it was therefore necessary to generate resources to identify genes in the whole Lotus genome and to gain insights in the demographic performance and adaptive evolution in Lotus, an area that still remains unexplored.  During his studies, Niraj described the characterization of natural variation in the model legume Lotus in two different types of populations: recombinant inbred lines (RILs) and natural ecotypes collected in Japan. By means of the analysis of sequencing data from a large number RILs, he constructed detailed genetic maps, making it possible for QTL mapping and improvement of the reference genome sequence. In the second half of the project, he analyzed the sequencing data from Lotus ecotypes to characterize their population structure and map their migration pattern in Japan. Additionally the ecotypes SNPs now constitute a valuable resource that can be used in genome-wide association studies.

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

This résumé was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Tuesday 31 January 2017 at 13.00.
Place: Building 1252, room 310, Jeppe Vontillus, Lakeside Lecture Theatre, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 3, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of dissertation: Variant detection and population genetics analysis in Lotus japonicus
Contact information: Niraj Shah, e-mail: nshah@mbg.au.dk, tel.: +45 52 90 12 53
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Alan H. Schulman, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki
Professor Søren Bak, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen
Professor Finn Skou Pedersen (chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University.
Main supervisor:
Professor Jens Stougaard, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Co-supervisors:
Professor Mikkel Heide Schierup, Bioinformatics Research Center and Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University.
Assistant Professor Stig U. Andersen, Department 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 1520, rooms 128-134, 8000 Aarhus C.