GENACT · Genomics and the Analysis of Complex Traits
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2006-04-01 → 2010-03-31
- EU contribution
- €1,256,780
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- EST
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Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - GENACT (Genomics and the Analysis of Complex Traits)
The great advances made in genome sequencing since the Human Genome Project was launched have created a vast wealth of data on genomic variability from humans and many other species, and increasingly, individuals within those species. However, the expertise in statistical genetics necessary to analyse the data generated is in short supply. This Early Stage Training Project was designed within the Marie Curie Actions of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) to furnish a group of young scientists with the skills necessary to build scientific careers in this area and thus contribute to the health and wealth generation potential of the European Union. The 'Genomics and the Analysis of Complex Traits' (GENACT) project was designed to provide training through a combination of 12-month and 36-month fellowships, allowing the early stage fellows to register for MSc and PhD degrees, respectively. Five fellows in each category were recruited, from 8 countries: all five 12-month fellows gained the degree of MSc, one with distinction, and 3 out of the five 36-month fellows have already been awarded their PhD degrees - unusually quickly for Edinburgh (under University regulations they have 48 months to submit their thesis). A series of milestones on the way towards their degrees have been satisfactorily completed by all students and the project has already led to the publication of eight refereed scientific articles and four articles in conference proceedings. In addition, eight oral and three poster presentations were given by fellows at scientific conferences (mostly international). The highlights of the project included papers published by 36-month fellows on: - 'Decline in the frequency and benefits of multiple brooding in Great Tits as a consequence of a changing environment' (Husby et al., 2009); - 'Contrasting patterns of phenotypic plasticity in reproductive traits in two Great Tit (Parus major) populations' (Husby et al., 2010); - 'Two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the myostatin (GDF8) gene have significant association with muscle depth of commercial Charollais sheep' (Hadjipavlou et al., 2008)'; - 'Age-dependent quantitative trait loci affecting growth traits in Scottish Blackface sheep' (Hadjipavlou and Bishop, 2009); - 'Extensive QTL and Association Analyses of the QTLMAS2009 data' (Hadjipavlou et al., 2010); - 'Distributions of Selectively Constrained Sites and Deleterious Mutation Rates in the Hominid and Murid Genomes' (Eory et al 2009); - 'Patterns of DNA-Sequence Divergence Between Drosophila miranda and D. Pseudoobscura' (Marion de Proce et al., 2009). The 12 month Fellows submitted MSc dissertations with the following titles: - 'Phylogenetic analysis of oak gallwasps'; - 'Global analysis of runs of homozygosity'; - 'Evolution of human herpesviruses'; - 'Performance of genomewide association using GRAMMAR'; - 'Lactose intolerance: genetics, diet and disease'. The GENACT project has been reported on in the 12th edition of 'Projects' magazine. GENACT has had a significant impact on the development of expertise in statistical genomics among young scientists in Europe and this success will be extended as they continue their careers in the future.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Complex traits are determined by the combined action of several genes and the environment. They are characterised in quantitative terms using statistical methods and it is increasingly recognised that many common human diseases such as cardiovascular disea se, cancer, psychiatric illness, autoimmune and inflammatory disease fall into this category. Susceptibility to prevalent infections, or to disease following infection (in humans, domesticated and wild animals) can be so described as can most of the traits of greatest interest in evolutionary biology such as fitness, viability, and reproductive success. The development of genomic technology in recent years has had an immense impact on all areas of genetics and evolutionary biology. The theory describing t he fate of genes in populations was reformulated; there is increasing recognition that linkage between genes, and disequilibrium which arises in populations between linked genes is important. Genetic mapping and genome sequencing programmes of human, mouse and other organisms have generated many markers for mapping genes influencing complex traits in human populations as well as those of wild animals and model organisms. All these areas under active research in this department. These developments have le d to a requirement for training young researchers working in the area of genome studies in population and statistical genetics, quantitative genetics and bioinformatics in an environment which exposes them to state-of-the-art science. This proposal will br ing such trainees to a department world-ranked in evolutionary and quantitative genetics with large concentration of internationally recognised scientists working in diverse areas. This department held a Marie Curie award under the FP5 scheme for short-ter m visits in Quantitative Genomics which was outstandingly successful and has built on that experience to develop a programme which is of the highest quality.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH · EDINBURGHCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union