Biostatistics

Because biological systems exhibit variability due to environmental, genetic, as well as experimental causes, it is essential that appropriate statistical procedures are used in the analysis of data so that results of any studies may be relied upon. A/Prof Peter Thomson, one of the principals of ReproGen, is a statistician who s also on the teaching of the Faculty. In conjunction with Biometry Unit staff in the Faculty of Agriculture, advice is provided to research students and staff within ReproGen to ensure that appropriate experimental designs and analysis procedures are used.

However, in some situations, standard off the shelf statistical procedures may not always be appropriate. Within the statistical genetics area in particular, a number of areas of advanced training and / or research are being conducted. All of these have developed from the need to address a particular biological research question. Some of these include:

Statistical methods for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping studies

Experimental design and statistical analysis of microarray experiments

Statistical computing: training and use of modern statistical packages such as R, S-PLUS

Application of advanced statistical methods: longitudinal data analysis (lactation curves); generalized linear mixed models (QTL mapping); survival analysis (genetics of trypanosome tolerance)