Functional Genome Analysis Unit

Genetic regulation at the multi-omics-system-level involved in complex traits from cell energy metabolism to final phenotype

We investigate the different genetic and epigenetic-physiological approaches that farm animals have developed to yield important breeding traits in the course of domestication and that form the basis of complex trait variations.

Therefore we analyze variations on the level of genes and gene products, i.e. transcriptome, proteome and metabolome. However, the activity of genes, functional networks of genes and gene products is strongly affected by environmental factors, like dietary deficiencies or pathogens, which potentially results in persistent variances in metabolism and health.

To explore the impact of such environmental factors on gene expression in specific tissues of farm animals, we incorporate complex gene-gene and gene-environment interactions in our analyses. Further we integrate multi-omics system data and visualize biological networks to link together complex traits including metabolic and immune traits.