Kaixiong (Calvin) Ye

Assistant Professor
PhD (2015) Cornell University

YE Lab Website

Graduate students:

Lu Wang (Genetics; 01/2024-)

Yueqi Lu (Genetics; 01/2024-)

Saurav Kumar Choudhary (Bioinformatics; 01/2023-)

Susan Adanna Ihejirika (Bioinformatics; 01/2022-)

Huifang Xu (Genetics; 01/2022-)

Shuang Yang (Genetics; 08/2019-)

Yitang Sun (Genetics; 09/2019-)

Michael Francis (Bioinformatics; 06/2019-12/2022; Graduated)

Research Areas:
Evolutionary Genetics
Genomics and Bioinformatics
Molecular Genetics
Research Interests:

My research interest lies in Nutritional Genomics, a new interdisciplinary field bridging Nutritional Sciences and Human Genomics. I am interested in identifying genetic variants that historically helped human populations adapt to local diets and currently underlie individual differences in nutrient metabolism and metabolic disease risks. In the long run, I hope to develop statistical methods that integrate genomic information to personalize our dietary recommendations (Personalized Nutrition).  Current research topics in my lab include:

1. Genetic adaptation to diet during human evolution (Population Genetics); 

2. Evolution of metabolic genes and complex metabolic traits (Comparative and Population Genetics);

3. Genetic basis of metabolic diseases (Quantitative Genetics; Genetic Epidemiology);

4. Gene-diet interaction in metabolic diseases (Quantitative Genetics; Genetic Epidemiology);

5. Molecular mechanism of genetic variants (Molecular Genetics); 

6. Bioinformatic analysis of omics data (Bioinformatics);

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Selected Publications:

Francis M, Li C, Sun Y, Zhou J, Li X, Brenna JT, Ye K^. Genome-wide association study of fish oil supplementation on lipid traits in 81,246 individuals reveals new gene-diet interaction loci. PLOS Genetics. (2021)

Zhou J, Sun Y, Huang W, Ye K^. Altered blood cell traits underlie a major genetic locus of severe COVID-19. Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences. (2021)

Zhou J, Liu C, Sun Y, Huang W, Ye K^. Cognitive disorders associated with hospitalization of COVID-19: Results from an observational cohort study. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity (2020)

Zhou J, Liu C, Francis M, Sun Y, Ryu MS, Grider A, Ye K^. The Causal Effects of Blood Iron and Copper on Lipid Metabolism Diseases: Evidence from Phenome-wide Mendelian Randomization Study. Nutrients. (2020)

Ye K, Gao F, Wang D, Bar-Yosef O, Keinan A. Dietary adaptation of FADS genes in Europe varied across time and geography. Nature Ecology and Evolution (2017)

Kothapalli KSD*, Ye K*, Gadgil MS, et al. Positive selection on a regulatory insertion–deletion polymorphism in FADS2 influences apparent endogenous synthesis of arachidonic acid. Molecular Biology and Evolution (2016).

Ye K*, Cao C*, Lin X, O'Brien KO, Gu Z. Natural selection on HFE in Asian populations contributes to enhanced non-heme iron absorption. BMC Genetics (2015).

Ye K^, Lu J, Ma F, Keinan A, Gu Z^. Extensive pathogenicity of mitochondrial heteroplasmy in healthy human individuals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2014).

Ye K^, Lu J, Raj SM, Gu Z^. Human expression QTLs are enriched in signals of environmental adaptation. Genome Biology and Evolution (2013).

Ye K & Gu Z. Recent advances in understanding the role of nutrition in human genome evolution. Advances in Nutrition (2011).
 

UGA researchers develop method to improve crops

William Jordan and Lexiang Ji look over one of many sets of Arabidopsis thaliana, which were used to research a new plant breeding technique.

Technique using plant's own DNA could produce crops that are more resistant to drought and disease

A team of University of Georgia researchers has developed a new way to breed plants with better traits. By introducing a human protein into the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana, researchers found that they could selectively activate silenced genes already present within the plant.

Nick Batora, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Genetics, studies the Purple Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

Nick Batora, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Genetics

Plants produce an outstanding diversity of chemicals to ward off insects and other herbivores intent on consuming them.

For centuries, people have used these plant chemicals to season food, create fragrances, or as healing medicine.

The chemicals and compounds that these plants produce are extraordinarily useful for medicinal purposes. In fact, nearly 75 percent of pharmaceuticals developed over the past 30 years are derived from natural products, such as plants.

UGA to lead NSF project to rapidly sequence corn pangenome

Kelly Dawe

Project will sequence genetic diversity of world’s largest cash crop

When the human genome was first sequenced in 2001, the project focused on a single individual. Since that time, several new genomes have been assembled and additional genetic data have been generated for thousands of individuals, producing a more complete picture of human genetic makeup, with broad implications for human health, from biomedical science to anthropology. Now, researchers plan to begin a similar process with corn.

Amazing Students - Stephan George

Stephan George

Stephan George, who is pursuing three bachelor’s degrees, started doing lab research as soon as he stepped foot on campus and is committed to making a difference for people with disabilities.

Hometown:

Lawrenceville, GA

High school:

Brookwood High School

Expected graduation:

May 2020

Degree objective:

B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; B.S. Genetics; B.S. Biology

Current employment:

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