the Wright lab

I am a quantitative geneticist that works on both applied (welfare) and evolutionary topics, with my research group focusing on the genetic basis of domestication and feralisation. We are part of AVIAN, the Behavioural Genomics and Physiology group at Linköping University. My group uses the twin processes of domestication and feralisation to unravel the genetic basis of complex traits. Domestication is an incredibly central process throughout civilization, with widespread effects on the target animal populations. Species like the modern domesticated chicken have experienced enormous selection over the past 8 000 years for everything from size, to color, to anxiety behavior. In contrast, when domestic animals escape or are released into the wild, they will re-adapt to the natural environment whilst being subject to natural and sexual selection once again in a process known as feralisation. Both feralisation and domestication provide powerful tools for studying the effects of such selection. 

The comparison with wild and domestic birds also enables me to assess the genetic basis of welfare-related traits in the chicken. In particular I am interested in the genetic basis of keel bone fracture susceptibility, and bone allocation in laying birds in general, and the genetic basis of anxiety-related behaviour. Keel bone damage is arguably the largest welfare-related problem in laying  hens (those used for egg production) currently. Research has shown that by the end of their laying cycle, up to 90% of modern lay hens have fractures in the keel bone, as well as other long bones. By utilising different chicken intercrosses, we aim to identify the genetic loci that can help protect against such fractures, and also work out what genetic polymorphisms predispose birds to these types of fractures.