Ralph T. Wiedmann

Ralph.Wiedmann@ars.usda.gov

Phone: (402) 762-4253

Dr. Wiedmann's research as a Computational Biologist includes (1) looking for patterns in the genetic code of agricultural animals, (2) identification of micro-RNA and quantification of micro-RNA expression levels, and (3) running computer models to learn the inherited components of economically important traits. The genetic patterns of greatest interest to Dr. Wiedmann are those that frequently repeat themselves throughout the genome. Finding the repeated elements is valuable to Molecular Geneticists because it improves the reliability of their experiments. Finding the expression levels of micro-RNAs helps us to understand processes, like the creation of muscle tissue, that are important to the health and growth of the animals.  Improving our understanding of the inherited components of valuable (or detrimental) traits allow breeders of cattle and swine to make more profitable decisions on which males to breed to their females.