Title: Independent Research Group 'Population Genetics'

Project manager: Prof. Dr. A. Tellier (TUM-PG)

Objective:
Strengthen the network Synbreed by establishing an independent research group in population genetics and genomics. The group has for objectives to assess existing statistical methods to detect selection in genomic data, as well as developing new methods based on coalescent theory.

Summary:
Within the TUMfaculty of Life and Food Sciences Weihenstephan the research group “Population Genetics” dedicated to genome based research on crop and livestock breeding has been established to strengthen the research cluster Synbreed. Population and evolutionary genetics form the base for many theoretical concepts of breeding methodology, and thus the group will actively participate to the network Synbreed by contributing methods and tools for improved selection of agricultural populations. The group is developing novel statistical methods for genomic analyses to bridge theoretical and experimental population genetics for the study of domesticated species, allowing in depth analysis of data from next-generation sequencing in close collaboration with project A4.  The group is actively participating in training of young scientists within the interdisciplinary graduate program and summer schools organized by project S2 (see Synbreed Winter School 2012).