Genetical genomics approaches for systems genetics
PhD ceremony: Mr. B.M. Tesson, 16.15 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen
Title: Genetical genomics approaches for systems genetics
Promotor(s): prof. R.C. Jansen, prof. R. Breitling
Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Variation in DNA sequences is at the source of much phenotypic diversity. Understanding the biological mechanisms through which this variation affects tissues, organs or organisms is the aim of systems genetics. Genetical genomics uses quantitative genetics approaches to identify the naturally occurring allelic variants responsible for differential abundance of molecular traits such as messenger RNAs, proteins or metabolites. The thesisof Bruno Tesson explores the potential of genetical genomics to dissect the molecular interplay that gives rise to complex phenotypes (e.g. diseases) and thereby, contribute to the larger ambition of systems genetics.
The different steps of a genetical genomics study are detailed by Tesson, with such an analysis performed on transcriptomic data from mouse hematopoietic cells. The results demonstrate that the effects of natural DNA variation on gene expression are highly sensitive to cell differentiation stage, emphasizing the need for cellular targeting in systems genetics. A careful permutation strategy is advocated to guard against erroneous interpretation of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) hotspots as major genetic regulators.
Also a novel method is proposed by Tesson to study differential coexpression, offering complementary insights to classical differential expression analysis. Elucidating the role of individual genes, proteins or metabolites in the acquisition of specific phenotypes requires the ability to infer causal relationships between those traits. The potential and limitations of existing causal inference methods in genetical genomics is explored. Finally, current and future systems genetics challenges arising in experimental design, statistical significance and network reconstruction are discussed by him.
Last modified: | 13 March 2020 01.10 a.m. |
More news
-
18 July 2024
Smart robots to make smaller chips
A robotic arm in a factory that repeatedly executes the same movement: that’s a thing of the past, states Ming Cao. Researchers of the University of Groningen are collaborating with high-tech companies to make production processes more autonomous.
-
17 July 2024
Veni-grants for ten researchers
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded a Veni grant of up to €320,000 each to ten researchers of the University of Groningen and the UMCG. The Veni grants are designed for outstanding researchers who have recently gained a PhD.
-
15 July 2024
Funding for RUG researchers from National Growth Fund programme Circular Plastics NL
For research on making plastics circular, Professors Patrizio Raffa and Katja Loos together receive about 1.2 million euros from the National Growth Fund programme Circular Plastics NL.