The Genetic Architecture of Complex Traits and Diseases in Dairy Cattle

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dc.contributor.advisorMa, Lien_US
dc.contributor.authorFreebern, Ellenen_US
dc.contributor.departmentAnimal Sciencesen_US
dc.contributor.publisherDigital Repository at the University of Marylanden_US
dc.contributor.publisherUniversity of Maryland (College Park, Md.)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2022-09-27T05:45:35Z
dc.date.available2022-09-27T05:45:35Z
dc.date.issued2022en_US
dc.description.abstractGenetic architecture refers to the number and locations of genes that affect a trait, as well as the magnitude and the relative contributions of their effects. A better understanding of the genetic architecture of complex traits and diseases will be beneficial for analyzing genetic contributions to disease risk and for estimating genetic values of agricultural importance. In particular, genetic and genomic selection in dairy cattle populations has been well established and exploited through genome-wide association studies, sequencing studies, and functional studies. The objective of this dissertation is to understand the genetic architecture of complex traits and apply the understanding to investigate the biological relationship between genetics and diseases in dairy cattle. First, we performed GWAS and fine-mapping analyses on livability and six health traits in Holstein-Friesian cattle. From our analyses, we reported significant associations and candidate genes relevant to cattle health. Second, we evaluated genome-wide diversity in cattle over a period of time by running GWAS and proposed a gene dropping simulation program. From this study, we identified candidate variants under selection that are associated with biological and economically important traits in cattle. Also, we demonstrated that gene dropping is an applicable method to investigate changes in the cattle genome over time. Third, we investigated the effect of maternal age and temperature on recombination rate in cattle. We provided novel results regarding the plasticity of meiotic recombination in cattle. Additionally, we found a positive correlation between environmental temperature at conception and recombination rate in Holstein-Friesian cows. Collectively, these studies advance our understanding of the genetic architecture and the biological relationship between complex traits and diseases in dairy cattle.en_US
dc.identifierhttps://doi.org/10.13016/c4m8-v5y4
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/29385
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledAnimal sciencesen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledGeneticsen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledBiostatisticsen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledBiostatisticsen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledComplex traitsen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledDairy cattleen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledFine-mappingen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledGenomic selectionen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledGWASen_US
dc.titleThe Genetic Architecture of Complex Traits and Diseases in Dairy Cattleen_US
dc.typeDissertationen_US

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