Genomics ⋅ Page 1

Making the Cut

Harly Durbin has been collecting and organizing hair shedding data

In 2015, Jared Decker, an associate professor in the Division of Animal Sciences and state beef Extension specialist, received a $3 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture focused on matching cattle to their best environments so producers can make educated decisions about which animals are going to be most productive for them. Harly Durbin and Troy Rowan…

Matching Cattle to Their Best Environments

Troy Rowan earns podium presentation at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

In 2015, Jared Decker received a $2 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture with the goal of creating genetic and genomic predictions that would allow producers, farmers and ranchers to identify the cattle that are going to perform the best in their specific environment. Troy Rowan arrived at the University of Missouri in 2016 – and has…

Research Center Magazine: Improving Heifer Development

Thompson herd strengthened through the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program 

This story also appears in our University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ Agricultural Research Center Magazine. Stop by your local Research Center to pick up a copy! You can view the magazine online by clicking here: Road to Discovery.  The Missouri Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program has enrolled more than 135,000 heifers on more than 850 farms…

Research Center Magazine: Testing the Herd

Genetic testing helping to strengthen the herd at Foremost Dairy

This story also appears in our University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ Agricultural Research Center Magazine. Stop by your local Research Center to pick up a copy! You can view the magazine online by clicking here: Road to Discovery.  In 2014, Pastel, a Holstein heifer, was born at the Foremost Dairy Research Center. The calf was…

Breeding a Better Bee

CAFNR researchers comb the honey bee genome for resilience against damaging parasite

The honey bee is as busy as ever. From almonds to zucchini, honey bees pollinate more than 90 agricultural crops in the United States — worth more than $15 billion annually. In 2017, the apiculture industry provided pollination services valued at nearly $320 million, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. In addition, the bees also produced almost 150…

Transferring Technology

Division of Animal Sciences receives grant to develop national center

The Division of Animal Sciences at the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) boasts many strengths, including its vast research and work with beef cattle reproduction and genetics. The faculty, who have responsibilities not only in research, but also in teaching, extension and economic development, are experts in taking their findings and sharing them with…

Building Better Soybeans

MU center to map genomes of 1,008 soybean varieties

The National Center for Soybean Biotechnology (NCSB) at the University of Missouri has begun a project to sequence the DNA of 1,008 commercially important soybean varieties. The effort is designed to provide a multifold increase in genetic data to breeders to create improved soybeans that are more productive, more disease tolerant and have improved nutritional quality.

Soybean Hero

Henry Nguyen elected as AAAS fellow

Henry Nguyen, director of the National Center for Soybean Biotechnology at the University of Missouri, was recently elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Nguyen was honored for his distinguished research contributions in plant genetics and genomics, and his leadership in plant abiotic stress, most notably in drought tolerance. AAAS fellows are elected annually for…