Edinburgh Research Explorer

Prof John Hickey

Chair of Animal Breeding

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Phone: +44 (0)131 651 9100

Education/Academic qualification

2005Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Wageningen University & Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
Multiple Breed Genetic Evaluations of Cattle
2003Master in Science, University of Edinburgh
Application of a quadratic selection algorithm to restrict the variance of response to selection while maximising the response to selection in a poultry population
1999Bachelor of Science, University of Dublin, Ireland
Animal & Crop Production

Current Research Interests

Our group AlphaGenes focusses on the development and application of quantitative genetics methods and computational approaches for animal and plant breeding programs collected at the AlphaSuite. Currently our overarching research aim relates to the development of what we call Genomic Selection 2.0. We envisage that GS2.0 would be underpinned by huge quantities of sequence data generated at low cost and could enable several new ways of driving genetic improvement and biological insight. 

Qualifications

2009 PhD in Genetic Evaluations of Livestock

Department of Agriculture, University College Dublin, Republic of Ireland (100% of my time was spent at Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands) Supervisor: Prof. Roel F. Veerkamp.

 2004 MSc. Quantitative genetics and genome analysis 

Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

2003. Bachelor of Science in Agriculture 

University College Dublin, Republic of Ireland

 

Websites

AlphaGenes – Computational Genetics Research Development and application of quantitative genetics methods and computational approaches for animal and plant breeding programs and human genetics
www.alphagenes.roslin.ed.ac.uk

 

Research outputs

  1. Genome-based trait prediction in multi- environment breeding trials in groundnut

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

  2. Extending long-range phasing and haplotype library imputation algorithms to large and heterogeneous datasets

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

  3. AlphaFamImpute: high accuracy imputation in full-sib families from genotype-by-sequencing data

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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Research activities & awards

  1. Opponent at Xiaowei Mao´s public defence of his thesis for the doctor´s degree.

    Activity: Examination types › External Examiner or Assessor

  2. Short course in Evolutionary Quantitative Genetics

    Activity: Other activity types › Types of External academic engagement - Hosting an academic visitor

  3. Illumina Webinar Series

    Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course

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Research projects

  1. Development of a high-throughput pipeline to identify causal variants and its demonstration in pig muscle

    Project: Research

  2. Genetic dissection and identification of quantitative trait loci and candidate genes for heat tolerance and 100 seed weight in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

    Project: Research

  3. ISP19 Pump-priming: Functional validation of regulatory regions in pig muscle

    Project: Research

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Research press coverage

  1. John Hickey discusses breeding programs and scientific impact

    Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities

  2. John Hickey consulted about gene editing of animals

    Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities

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