Kent, Matthew

Scientist

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Phone: +47-6496-5259

Present position: Scientist (Centre for Integrative Genetics, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, UMB).

Degrees: PhD in Biochemistry, Lincoln University, New Zealand (2001), MSc in Animal Science, Lincoln University, New Zealand (1994).

Professional background: Post-Doctoral researcher (2001-2003) USDA Meat Animal Research Centre, Clay Centre Nebraska USA; Senior Scientist in Biotechnology Company (2004-2005); Post-Doctoral researcher (2005-2007) and Scientist (2008-) at the Department of Animal and Aquacultural Science, UMB.

Research experience: The calpain/calpastatin system, as it relates to post-mortem muscle degradation, in cell culture and transgenic mouse models. Contributed to the development of a protocol that transforms native DNA into designed DNA polymers. Large scale sequencing efforts for SNP discovery in Salmon, Cod, Bovine leading to the design and use of SNP genotyping arrays. SNP data analysis as it relates to linkage analysis, haplotype block construction, and physical mapping. Nimblegen sequence capture of bovine QTL regions for fine mapping and functional mutations. Interpretation of 2nd generation sequencing data.

Current research activity: Agrigenomics with focus on developing infrastructure for large scale SNP discovery, development and quality checking genotyping arrays. Specific focus on Salmon and Bovine species, with other activities in Cod, Trout, Sheep, and pig. My main responsibility is management of our Illumina and Affymetrix genotyping platforms, and our Nimblegen sequence capture platform. Related activities include planning activities with 2nd-generation sequencing technology, SNP discovery and data interpretation. Specific research activities include participation in international SalHapMap project (Salmon Haplotype Map), Salmon genome sequencing, Cod / Salmon / Trout SNP chip development, focused resequencing of QTLs in Norwegian Red Cattle (NRF), large scale resequencing of NRF genome.

Selected publications:
  • Luan, T., Woolliams, JA., Lien, S., Kent, MP., Svendsen, M., Meuwissen, THE. (2009), The accuracy of genomic selection in Norwegian red cattle assessed by cross validation. Genetics (in press)
  • L, Qin X, Song XZ, Jiang H, Shen Y, Durbin KJ, Lien S, Kent MP, Sodeland M, Ren Y, Zhang L, Sodergren E, Havlak P, Worley KC, Weinstock GM, Gibbs RA. (2009), Bos taurus genome assembly. BMC Genomics, 10:1, 180
  • Bovine HapMap Consortium, (2009), Genome-wide survey of SNP variation uncovers the genetic structure of cattle breeds. Science, 324(5926), 528-532
  • Bovine Genome Sequencing and Analysis Consortium (2009), The genome sequence of taurine cattle: a window to ruminant biology and evolution. Science, 324(5926), 522-528
  • Charlier, C., Coppieters, W., Agerholm, J.S., Cambisano, N., Carta, E., Desmecht, D., Dive, M., Fasquelle, C., Frennet, J-C., Hanset, R., Hubin, X., Jorgensen, C., Karim, L., Kent, M.P., Harvey, K., Pearce, B.R., Rollin, F., Simon, P., Tama, N., Nie, H., Vandeputte, S., Lien, S., Longeri, M., Fredholm, M., Harvey, R.J., Georges, M. (2008). Highly effective SNP-based association mapping and management of recessive defects in livestock. Nature Genetics 40, 449 - 454
  • Kent, M.P., Veiseth, E., Therkildsen, M. and Koohmaraie, M. (2005). An assessment of extraction and assay techniques for quantification of calpain and calpastatin from small tissue samples. Journal of Animal Science (83:9) 2182-2188.
  • Geesink, G.H., van der Palen, J.G.P., Kent, M.P., Veiseth, E., Hemke, G. and Koohmaraie, M. (2005). Quantification of calpastatin using and optical surface plasmon resonance biosensor. Meat Science (71:3) 537-541.
  • Kent, M.P., Spencer, M.J., Koohmaraie, M. (2004). Postmortem proteolysis is reduced in transgenic mice over-expressing calpastatin. Journal of Animal Science (82:3) 794-801.
  • Koohmaraie, M., Kent, M.P., Shackelford, S.D., Veiseth, E., Wheeler, T.L. (2002). Meat tenderness and muscle growth: is there any relationship? Meat Science (62) 345-352.