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Edward J Smith Professor, Department
of Animal & Poultry Sciences College
of Agriculture and Life Sciences Blacksburg,
VA 24061-0306 |
B.S,
(Div 1 (4.6/5.0)/ Magna cum Laude equivalence) University of Sierra Leone, 1984
M.S, Animal Genetics, Oregon State University,
1989
PhD, Poultry Genetics, Oregon State
University, 1991
Post Doctoral, Molecular Genetics, Iowa State
University
Employment history
Professor, Virginia Tech, 2006-
Associate Professor, Virgnia Tech, 2000-2006
Associate Professor, Tuskegee University,
1996-2000
Visiting Scholar, University of Washington
Genome center, 1997-
Affiliate Associate Professor, Auburn
University, 1996-
Research Interests:
A major limitation in associating specific genes with economic traits in poultry (and other animals) is our lack of understanding of the genomes. This understanding, to be facilitated by the development of genomic reagents, will provide a resource for comparative genome analysis with genetic data-rich species. My research focus on genome analysis on turkeys and chickens is thus based on the premise that there is not enough molecular biologist to study the 60,000 (?) genes in birds. Our recent efforts have focused on the development of genomic tools essential for understanding the hereditary basis of economically important poultry traits. Though it is economically important, both, to the Commonwealth of Virginia and the US, the turkey genome remains very little understood.
In our long-term genome analysis strategy, the following
activities are underway:
Understanding the genetic basis of oxidative stress using birds
Teaching Interests:
Across the country, interest in poultry as a major has been on a significant decline. One way to reverse this decline is to establish courses that will broaden the appeal of poultry not only as a commodity but also as a model species for the biomedical sciences. My teaching interests, like my research have revolved around this mission of broadening poultry to attract both those students interested in production as well as the science.
Courses taught since 2000:
Genomics – BCHM/APSC 4054: co-taught with Malcolm Potts
Animal Breeding and Genetics (ALS 3104: 25%)
Comparative Genomics (Two weeks: Special
Topics)
GBCB Seminar (GBCB 5004)
Recent (since 2002) publications (total: 52 peer-reviewed):
Latch, E.K., Smith, E.J. , and Rhodes , Jr. O.E.R, 2002. Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in wild and domestic turkeys ( Meleagris gallopavo ). Molecular Ecology, Notes 2:173-175.
Smith, E.J ., L. Shi, and G. Smith, 2002. Expressed Sequence Tags for the Chicken Genome from a Normalized Ten-day-old White Leghorn Whole Embryo cDNA library: 3. DNA Sequence Analysis of Genetic Variation in Commercial Chicken Populations, Genome . 45:261-267.
Brooks, R, Williamson J, Hensley, A, Butler , E, Touchton, G, and Smith, E.J. , 2003. Buccal cells as a source of DNA for comparative animal genomic analysis, Biotechnology Letters 25:451-454.
Burt, D.W., Morrice, D.R., Sewalem, A., Smith, J., Paton, I.R., Smith, E.J., Bentley, J., and Hocking, P.M. 2003. Preliminary linkage map of the turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo ) based on microsatellite markers. Animal Genetics 34:399-409.
Nahashon SN , Bartlett J , Smith E.J ., 2004. Effect of the late-feathering or early-feathering genotypes on performance and carcass traits of broiler chickens . Livestock Production Science 91:83-94.
Smith, E. J., Geng, T., Sponenberg, P., Pierson, W., and Larsen, C.T. 2005. Molecular analysis of the relatedness of five domesticated turkey strains. Biochem. Genetics 43:35-47.
Smith, E.J., Geng, T., Kamara, D., Lin, K.C. and Hartman, S. 2005. Avian genomes: resources for biomedical research. Current Genomics 6: 75-80.
Smith, E.J., Shi + , L., and Tu, Z. 2005. Gallus gallus aggrecan gene-based phylogenetic analysis of selected avian taxonomic groups. Genetica 124:23-32.
Hartman, S., Touchton, G., Wynn, J., Geng, T., Chong, N., and Smith, E . 2005. Characterization of expressed sequence tags from a Gallus gallus pineal gland cDNA library. Comparative and Functional Genomics 6:301-306.
Smith, E.J., Burt, D.W., and Pourqoui, O. 2005. Poultry genomics puts meat on the table: chicken genomics and development workshop. Comparative and Functional Genomics 6:311-316.
Amenkhienan*, E., and Smith, E.J . 2006. A web-based genetic polymorphism learning approach for high school students and science teachers. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education 34:30-33 .
Ray , S.A. , Drummond, P.B., Shi, L., McDaniel, G.R., and Smith, E.J., 2006. Mutation Analysis of the Aggrecan gene in chickens with tibial dyschondroplasia. Poultry Science , in Press.
Hartman, S., S.A. Taleb, T. Geng, K. Gyenai, and E.J. Smith, 2006. Comparison of plasma uric acid levels in five strains of the domestic turkey, Meleagris gallopavo . Poultry Science, in Press.
Lin, K.C., Xu, J., Gyenai, K.B., Pyle, R., Smith, E.J. 2006. Candidate gene expression analysis of toxin-induced dilated cardiomyopathy in the turkey, Meleagris gallopavo . Poultry Science, in Press.
D. Kamara, K. B. Gyenai, T. Geng, H. Hammade, and E. J. Smith. 2006. Microsatellite marker-based genetic analysis of relatedness among commercial and heritage turkeys ( Meleagris gallopav. Poultry Science, in press.
Kamara, D., Geng, T, Guynn, S., Larsen, C., and Smith, E.J., 2006. Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers from the budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulates. Molecular Ecology Notes , in Press.
Other passion:
Motivating
high school students and undergraduates to have fun in the lab and enjoy
hypothesis testing
Running…a veteran of 15 marathons…. a PR
of 3:42…
Contact Info:
E-mail : Edward Smith
<esmith@vt.edu>
Phone : +1
540-231-6797
FAX :
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