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Identification of causal variants for complex traits (ARC Discovery Project administered by the University of Melbourne) (2026-2028)

Abstract

The aim of this project is to identify causal variants for complex traits in cattle and humans. Although most important traits in agriculture, medicine and evolution are complex traits, very few of the genetic variants affecting these traits are known and this undermines our understanding of how genetic variants affect a trait and practical uses of this knowledge. Huge datasets of individuals with genome sequence and phenotypes and new statistical methods provide the opportunity to close this gap. The outcome will be identification of many genomic variants causing variation in complex traits. This will benefit scientific understanding of complex traits and the ability to predict traits for individuals from their genome sequence.

Experts

Dr Jian Zeng

NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow - Group Leader
Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Jian Zeng
Jian Zeng

Professor Naomi Wray

Affiliate of Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research
Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
Affiliate of The Centre for Population and Disease Genomics
Centre for Population and Disease Genomics
Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Professorial Research Fellow
Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Naomi Wray
Naomi Wray