Monday, April 30, 2012, 8:50, 212 Animal Sciences Building

“Introduction to Genomic Predicton”
(Lecture to undergraduate classes Animal Sciences 362 and 363, open to public)

Tuesday, May 1, 2012, 12:05 pm, 212 Animal Sciences Building
(Seminar, open to public)

“State of the art in genomic prediction of beef cattle performance”

Professor Garrick's research goal is to understand genetic and environmental factors affecting variation in quantitative (or complex) traits of agriculturally important animals. He has had extensive experience in Oceania, the USA, and other countrie in the design of efficient animal breeding programs.

Dr Garrick's current research projects aim to improve the accuracy of predicted genetic and phenotypic merit using high-density genomic information. Generally, his work focuses on the portfolio of endeavors that are involved in the design and implementation of genetic improvement programs. These include aspects of genetics, economics, statistics, and biology. Attention is directed at variance component estimation, prediction of breeding values, development of breeding objectives, exploitation of breed/heterosis effects, and breeding industry structure; primarily in regard to their application to the nationa improvement of beef cattle, but other species are also considered in his work.

Dr Garrick has received numerous recognitions and is a member of the American Dairy Science Association, the American Society of Animal Science, the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, and the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding & Genetics.

Monday, April 26, 2011, 8:50, 212 Animal Sciences Building

“Introduction to Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci”
(Lecture to undergraduate classes Animal Sciences 362 and 363, open to public)

Tuesday, April 27, 2011, 12:30 pm, 274 Animal Sciences Building
(Seminar, open to public)

“Systems Genetics of Drosophila Complex Traits”

Professor Mackay’s research goal is to understand genetic and environmental factors affecting variation in quantitative (or complex) traits. This is necessary for risk modification of multifactorial human diseases, in theory for a more comprehensive view of the genetic processes underlying phenotypic evolution, and in practice for improving production traits in domestic species. Professor Mackay investigates the genetic architecture of quantitative traits by studying: (1) at what genetic loci (Quantitative Trait Loci, QTL) segregating and mutational variation occurs; (2) homozygous, heterozygous and epistatic effects, pleiotropic effects on other characters, including fitness; and environmental sensitivities of QTL alleles; and (3) the molecular genetic basis of quantitative variation in nature. Current research focuses on Drosophila melanogaster, which has a wealth of genetic and genomic resources, and morphological, behavioral, physiological and life history characters spanning the gamut of fitness profiles.

During her career, Dr. Mackay has received numerous recognitions, including: Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2003), Genetics Society of America Medal (2004), Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2005), Fellow, Royal Society (2006), Member, New York Academy of Sciences, (2007), and Member, National Academy of Sciences (2010). Apart from having published numerous scientific articles in her areas of interest, she is a co-author of Falconer’s celebrated “Introduction to Quantitative Genetics”, a landmark textbook.

Prof. Daniel Sorensen, Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Aarhus, Denmark

Monday, May 3, 2010, 8:50, 212 Animal Sciences Building

“Science, Myth and Religion: a Geneticist's Narrative.” (Lecture to undergraduate classes Animal Sciences 362 and 363, open to public)

Tuesday, May 4, 2010, 12:30 pm, 274 Animal Sciences Building (Seminar, open to public)

“The Genetics of Environmental Variation”

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Professor Sorensen has made very strong contributions to quantitative and statistical genetics. In the 80’s he introduced best linear unbiased prediction in the national pig breeding program of Denmark. Subsequently, he pioneered the use of Markov chain Monte Carlo in quantitative genetics, and made an important contribution via the widely cited book “Likelihood, Bayesian and MCMC methods in quantitative genetics”, Springer, 2002. He has lectured extensively in Bayesian methods and Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling in many countries. In 2009 he was elected Fellow of the American Statistical Association (USA) for “influential research in statistical methods for quantitative genetics; for pioneering work on Bayesian methods applied to animal breeding; and for excellence in international teaching of advanced statistical methods”. His current research has focused on quantitative genetic models for investigating genetic control of environmental variability. Outside interests include philosophy, classical music and tomatoes.

"Animal ethics for animal scientists"

"Genetics of Uterine Capacity an embryo survival"

"Is molecular genetics so useful in animal breeding?"

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Prof. Dempfle carried out undergraduate studies at the University of Technology of (West) Berlin, University of Edinburgh and Hohenheim University, where he received the Dipl. Ing. Agr. degree in 1970. Subsequently, he received the Dr. Sc. Agr. in 1972 (with distinction) from Hohenheim. From 1972 through 1974 he undertook post-doctoral study at Cornell University, working mainly with Prof. C. R. Henderson. He has held faculty positions at the Munich University of Technology since 1975, and he is now Chair of Biometry. During the period 1993-1998 he was Director General of the International Trypanotolerance Center (ITC) in Banjul, the Gambia.

Prof. Dempfle has served the scientific community in several capacities. For example, he was Associate Editor of Biometrics, President of the Genetics Commission of the European Association for Animal Production and is now member of the Advisory Board for Biodiversity and Genetic Resources of the Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (Germany).

Prof. Dempfle has published and taught extensively, both nationally (in Germany) and internationally, on statistical methods for genetic improvement of livestock, applied animal breeding and tropical animal production. He has also been a consultant on animal production (mainly for FAO) in, for example, Burkina Faso, China, Cuba, Cyprus, North Korea, Turkey, Samoa and Tonga.

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