Research Biographies

back to contents

PROFESSOR CHRIS HALEY

Biomedical Systems Analysis

Programme Leader


Chris Haley

Contact Details

E-mail address: chris.haley@hgu.mrc.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)131 332 2471 (extension 4026)
Fax: +44 (0)131 467 8456
Address: Medical Research Council
Human Genetics Unit
Western General Hospital
Crewe Road
Edinburgh EH4 2XU
   

 

 

Research Areas

My research interests lie in quantitative genetics. In particular in developing an understanding of the control complex traits, where inter-individual variation within and between populations is controlled by variation at a number of genes, by environmental factors and by the complex interactions of these components. Most variation between individuals within and between populations is in the form of complex traits. Consequently variation in complex traits is responsible for most inter-individual variation in susceptibility to disease (both infectious and metabolic) and underlies responses to selection, both natural and artificial. Thus understanding the genetic architecture of complex traits, both in general and for specific traits in particular populations, is essential if we are to understand why and how individuals vary. We can only be really effective in understanding and treating many diseases, in predicting individual’s risk of developing particular conditions and in dissecting the causes and consequences of natural selection if we understand the genetic control of variation in complex traits.


My research focuses on developing a general understanding of the control of complex traits illustrated by results from specific examples. It has involved the development of specific experimental studies and the resources necessary to implement these studies together with the development and application of methods and tools capable of analysing and interpreting the data generated by my group and our collaborators. In recent years research has focused on the development and application of approaches to locate loci controlling quantitative traits in the genome in order to identify some of the major determinants of variation in complex traits (gridQTL). The tools of structural and functional genomics have now reached a point where we can identify genes controlling variation with ever increasing precision, we can dissect interactions between genes and not just their direct effects and we can start piecing together the complex networks of interactions in expression and function that lie between genes and the phenotypes.


I hold a joint appointment with the Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh. Studies of quantitative trait variation have included a variety of traits in species from mice and fish through chickens and pigs to humans.

 

Recent Publications

  • Guo, Y.; Mao, H.; Ren, J.; Yan, X.; Duan, Y.; Yang, G.; Ren, D.; Zhang, Z.; Yang, B.; Ouyang, J.; Brenig, B.; Haley, C. and Huang, L. A linkage map of the porcine genome from a large-scale White Duroc x Erhualian resource population and evaluation of factors affecting recombination rates.
    Anim Genet.     40(1):47-52, 2009 PubMed Abstract
  • Haley, C. Human and livestock genetics: parallel evolution and horizontal exchange. J Animal Breed Genet 126:413-414, 2009 PubMed Abstract
  • Nagamine, Y.; Pong-Wong, R.; Visscher, P.M. and Haley, C.S. Detection of multiple quantitative trait loci and their pleiotropic effects in outbred pig populations. Genet Sel Evol 41:44, 2009
    PubMed Abstract
  • Navarro, P.; Vitart, V.; Hayward, C.; Tenesa, A.; Zgaga, L.; Juricic, D.; Polasek, O.; Hastie, N.D.; Rudan, I.; Campbell, H.; Wright, A.F.; Haley, C.S. and Knott, S.A. Genetic comparison of a Croatian isolate and CEPH European founders. Genet.Epidemiol e-pub Aug 20, 2009
    PubMed Abstract
  • Rowe, S.J.; Pong-Wong, R.; Haley, C.S.; Knott, S.A. and De Koning, D.J. Detecting parent of origin and dominant QTL in a two-generation commercial poultry pedigree using variance component methodology. Genet.Sel Evol. 41(1):6, 2009 PubMed Abstract
  • Wei, W.H.; Knott, S.; Haley, C.S. and De Koning, D.J. Controlling false positives in the mapping of epistatic QTL. Heredity e-pub Sept 30, 2009 PubMed Abstract
  • Haley, C.S. and de Koning, D.J. Towards in vitro genetics. Trends in Genetics 23:382-386, 2007 PubMed Abstract
  • Murphy, A.M.; MacHugh, D.E.; Park, S.D.E.; Scraggs, E.; Haley, C.S.; Lynn, D.J.; Boland, M.P. and Doherty, L. Linkage mapping of the locus responsible for inherited ovine arthrogryposis (IOA) to sheep chromosome 5. Mammalian Genome 18:43-52, 2007 PubMed Abstract
  • de Koning, D.J.A. Archibald, A. and Haley, C.S. Livestock genomics: bridging the gap between mice and men. Trends in Biotechnology 25:483-489, 2007 PubMed Abstract
  • Aulchenko,Y.S.; de Koning, D.J. and Haley, C. Genomewide rapid association using mixed model and regression: A fast and simple method for genomewide pedigree-based quantitative trait loci association analysis. Genetics 177:577-585, 2007 PubMed Abstract