Metzger Lab - Veterinary Functional Genomics

Our research

Our research group investigates genomic variation and architecture as well as the function and regulation of genomic elements in veterinary medicine. We use advanced OMICs technologies, including RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and Hi-C, alongside DNA language models to decode regulatory patterns and better understand complex genotype-phenotype relationships. A central focus lies on growth and skeletal development processes, particularly at the growth plate, in domestic animals such as pigs. We also explore the role of stem cells in tissue regeneration and degeneration, and examine functional and epigenetic mechanisms underlying diseases influenced by environmental factors like infections or temperature stress. Another key area of our work is the analysis of evolutionary processes in domestic species, with a particular focus on selection signatures and the genomic consequences of artificial selection. Our research integrates in vitro models with single-cell analyses and bioinformatics to uncover functional mechanisms at the molecular level.