During her studies, Qianqian Zhang has explored different strategies on utilization of whole genome sequence variants from next generation sequencing in cattle breeding. Using whole genome sequence variants, she showed the genetic variation, recent and ancient inbreeding, and genome-wide pattern of introgression across the demographic and breeding history in different cattle populations. Using the latest genomic tools, she demonstrated that the distribution of functional genetic variants in runs of homozygosity and introgressed haplotypes was shaped by recent selective breeding in cattle populations. She also compared the powers of different gene-based association mapping methods combining the rare variants within a gene, and is the first to report the role of rare and low-frequency variants in the variation of different complex traits and their impact on genomic prediction reliability. The new knowledge provided in her studies could be exploited to identify associated variants as well as improving genomic prediction with better utilization of whole genome sequence variants. The methods used in exploiting the use of whole genome sequence variants can be useful in studying other livestock species.

The PhD degree is completed at the Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics (QGG), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Science and Technology, Aarhus University and Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Tuesday 19 December 2017 at 9.00
Place: Auditorium, Aarhus University Foulum, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele
Title of dissertation: Exploiting whole genome sequence variants in cattle breeding: Unraveling the distribution of genetic variants and role of rare variants in genomic evaluation
Contact information: Qianqian Zhang, email: qianqian.zhang@mbg.au.dk tel.: +45 87157623
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Fred van Eeuwijk, Wageningen University, the Netherlands
Professor Johann Sölkner, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
Professor Hubert Pausch, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland
Main supervisors:
Senior Researcher Goutam Sahana, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Associate Professor Mario Calus, Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University, the Netherlands
Co-supervisors:
Professor Mogens Sandø Lund, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Associate Professor Bernt Guldbrandtsen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
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.