Speeding Up the Hunt for Causal Trait Mutations in Cattle and Other Agrigenomic Species

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service (USDA-ARS) is one of the leading research organizations in plant and animal genetics today. The Bovine Functional Genomics Lab at the USDA, has been pioneering the industry, leading to revolutionary discoveries in breeding, testing, and trait production in cattle. As a Research Geneticist in the group, Dr. Matthew McClure has published several papers on feed efficiency, beef tenderness, and genetic differentiation between breeds using SNP and GWAS studies. His latest work also incorporates next-generation sequencing technologies with an increased focus on the genetic cause of disease in cattle and other animals, including Weaver Syndrome.

In this webcast, Dr. McClure will describe his current research in agrigenomics, the technologies and methods he is using to identify causal mutations for Mendelian and complex traits, and how Golden Helix's SNP & Variation Suite has sped up the pace of discovery. This presentation is sure to be a fascinating look at how the latest advances in genetics are being readily applied to improve the plant and animals sciences.

About Dr. Matthew McClure

Dr. Matthew McClure is a Research Geneticist in the USDA-Agriculture Research Service's Bovine Functional Genomics Lab (BFGL) in Beltsville, MD. The BFGL group uses next generation sequencing, high density SNP, and targeted genotyping to study a wide range of quantitative and qualities phenotypes with a focus on improving the genetic and productive quality of cattle. Dr. McClure received his Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2009