Phone
(608) 512 2936Office Location
Animal Science Building
1675 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Mehmet Kizilaslan is originally from Türkiye, where he received his B.Sc. (2013) in Molecular Biology and Genetics. Right after being awarded M.Sc. (2016) in Animal Breeding and Genetics (Quantitative Genetics & Genome Analysis) from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland, UK), he started working for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye as a geneticist researcher. Here, he continued his graduate studies, while actively taking part in research with a focus on statistical analysis and bioinformatics of high-throughput genomic data including quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, genetic parameter estimations, genomic prediction, genomic characterization and the design and implementation of marker-assisted and genomic selection programs for economically important traits in various livestock species. He completed his Ph.D. (2022) studies at Erciyes University in Animal Genomics. Currently, as a postdoctoral research associate mentored by Hasan Khatib, Mehmet specializes in harnessing advanced computational biology and bioinformatics tools with a wide range of omics data including epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and genomics to improve our understanding of the foundational molecular mechanisms and inheritance of complex traits in animals. Mehmet’s current research involves investigating the role of epigenetics in various quantitative traits such as production, reproduction and diseases in livestock. He is particularly interested in the transgenerational inheritance of epigenetic variants influenced by paternal and maternal nutrition and their effects in embryos, oocytes and sperm as well as phenotypes of subsequent generations.
Selected Peer Reviewed Articles
Mucha, S., Mrode, R., Coffey, M., Kizilaslan, M., Desire, S., and Conington, J. (2018). Genome-wide association study of conformation and milk yield in mixed-breed dairy goats. Journal of dairy science, 101(3), 2213-2225. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-12919
Yilmaz, O., Kizilaslan, M., Arzik, Y., Behrem, S., Ata, N., Karaca, O., Elmaci, C. and Cemal, I. (2022). Genome‐wide association studies of preweaning growth and in vivo carcass composition traits in Esme sheep. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 139(1), 26-39. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbg.12640
Kizilaslan, M., Arzik, Y., Cinar, M. U., & Konca, Y. (2022). Genome-wise enGineerinG of ruminant nutrition–nutriGenomics: applications, challenGes, and future perspectives–a review. Annals of Animal Science, 22(2), 511-521. https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2021-0057
Kizilaslan, M., Arzik, Y., White, S. N., Piel, L. M., & Cinar, M. U. (2022). Genetic parameters and genomic regions underlying growth and linear type traits in Akkaraman sheep. Genes, 13(8), 1414. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13081414
Arzik, Y., Kizilaslan, M., White, S. N., Piel, L. M., & Cinar, M. U. (2022). Estimates of genomic heritability and genome-wide association studies for blood parameters in Akkaraman sheep. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 18477. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-22966-8
Arzik, Y., Kizilaslan, M., White, S. N., Piel, L. M., & Çınar, M. U. (2022). Genomic analysis of gastrointestinal parasite resistance in akkaraman sheep. Genes, 13(12), 2177. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13122177
Gul, S., Arzik, Y., Kizilaslan, M., Behrem, S., & Keskin, M. (2023). Heritability and environmental influence on pre-weaning traits in Kilis goats. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 55(2), 85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-023-03509-3
Arzik, Y., Kizilaslan, M., Behrem, S., White, S. N., Piel, L. M., & Cinar, M. U. (2023). Genome-wide scan of wool production traits in akkaraman sheep. Genes, 14(3), 713. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14030713
Kizilaslan, M., Arzik, Y., Behrem, S., White, S. N., & Cinar, M. U. (2024). Comparative genomic characterization of indigenous fat‐tailed Akkaraman sheep with local and transboundary sheep breeds. Food and Energy Security, 13(1), e508. https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.508
Kizilaslan, M., Arzik, Y., & Behrem, S. (2024). Genetic parameters for ewe lifetime productivity traits in Central Anatolian Merino sheep. Small Ruminant Research, 233, 107235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2024.107235
Kizilaslan, M., Arzik, Y., Behrem, S., Yavuz, E., White, S. N., & Cinar, M. U. (2024). Unravelling the Genetic Architecture of Serum Biochemical Indicators in Sheep. Genes, 15(8), 990. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15080990