My PhD project in Wageningen University & Research was designed on detecting the genetic background of dwarfism in chicken. We will make full use of the knowledge of functional genomics to investigate the comprehensive dwarfism in chicken genome. Using genome-wide sequencing data and SNP-arrays, we will be able to detect the candidate gene(s) and causal variants of chicken dwarfism/bantam. Hence, the molecular characterization of the dwarf phenotype would provide the knowledge required to utilize and conserve these chicken breeds.

I have studied in the field of animal science since bachelor. I have been engaged in the project related to functional genomics in feathering trait and production performance of chicken. I am interested in working closely with functional genomics as well as developing computational methods for bioinformatic analyses.

Detection and use of dwarfism genes in poultry

Unusually short body stature, known as dwarfism, is a condition of growth deficiency and reduced body weight caused by a variety of hereditary and hormonal disruptions. Small-sized(dwarf) animals have attracted a lot of interest of human, whatever it is for leisure, fancy or hobby reasons, people have raised, bred and studied small animals for decades. Here in this PhD project we used thewhole genome sequence data of  dwarf/bantam chickens to study the behind genetic nature of the small-sized animals.  The objectives of this PhD project focus on identifying the casual variation(s) and gene(s) that account for the dwarfism in different chicken breeds, as well as exploiting the genetic mechanism and phenotypic impact related to the traits.  Hence, the molecular characterization of the dwarf phenotype would provide the knowledge required to potentially utilize and conserve these chicken breeds.