Merlyn Nielsen

Wagner Professor, Animal Breeding

A218j Animal Science Building
Lincoln, NE 68583-0908
Phone: (402)472-6406
Fax: (402)472-6362
Email: mnielsen1@unl.edu
 

EDUCATION

• Ph.D., Major Animal Breeding, Minor Statistics; Iowa State University, 1974. Advisor: R. L. Willham
• M.S., Major Animal Breeding, Minor Statistics; Iowa State University, 1972. Advisor: R. L. Willham
• B.S., Major Animal Science, Minor Mathematics; University of Nebraska, 1970.

POSITIONS HELD

• Professor (1984-present) University of Nebraska
• Visiting Scientist (1982-1983) University of Edinburgh, Scotland
• Associate Professor (1978-1984) University of Nebraska
• Assistant Professor (1974-1978) University of Nebraska
• Graduate Assistant (1970-1974) Iowa State University

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Appointed Kermit Wagner Professor of Animal Science, 2006
• Holling Family Award for Teaching Excellence, UNL, 2005
• Gamma Sigma Delta Award of Merit, UNL Chapter, 2003
• Outstanding Scientist, Nebraska Chapter of Sigma Xi, 2002
• American Society of Animal Science, Rockefeller Prentice Memorial Award in Animal Breeding and Genetics, 1999
• Team Effort Award, IANR, UNL, 1993
• Gamma Sigma Delta Research Award, UNL Chapter, 1992
• Membership in Sigma Xi, 1976
• Membership in Phi Kappa Phi, 1971
• National Science Foundation Graduate Trainee, 1970-1973
• Membership in Gamma Sigma Delta, 1969
• Membership in Alpha Zeta, 1969

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS

• Genetic variation in energy utilization and in reproduction in beef cattle and mice as a laboratory species.
• Selection to change feed energy requirements for maintenance, including selection to change heat loss using mice as experimental animals.
• Genetic variation in response to stress and in gut-performance/gut microbial population parameters.
• Identification of selection goals and selection methods, including phenotypic and molecular techniques.
• Selection and crossbreeding strategies to improve efficiency of beef production.

COURSES

• ASCI 181: Nebraska Beef Industry Scholars Freshman Seminar
  • Semester: Spring
  • Summary: Seminar class with industry speakers; industry leader shadowing; with written and oral reports.
• ASCI 330: Animal Breeding
  • Semester: Fall
  • Summary: Principles of animal breeding and their application to livestock improvement. Material includes explanations of genetic variation as a cause of variation in animal performance, characterization of the effects of selection, inbreeding, and crossbreeding, and application of these procedures to development of breeding programs to improve efficiency of production.
•  ASCI 395D: Research Experience
  • Semester: Fall, Spring, Summer
  • Summary: Work with a faculty member on an individual research project with clear goals.
•  ASCI 499H: Honors Reseach Thesis
  • Semester: Fall, Spring, Summer
  • Summary: Work with a faculty member on an in-depth, individual research project with clear goals, including writing a thesis.
• ASCI 481: Nebraska Beef Industry Scholars Beef Summit
  • Semester: Fall
  • Summary: Plan and present the annual Beef Summit program for beef producers on the UNL campus.
•  ASCI/AGRO 931 Population Genetics
  • Semester: Fall (even-numbered calendar years)
  • Summary: Structure of populations, forces affecting gene frequency and frequency of genotypes, continuous variation, population values and vmeans, genotypic and environmental variances and covariances.

 SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• Rolfe, K.M.,, W.M. Snelling, M.K. Nielsen, H.C. Freetly, C.L. Ferrell, and T.G. Jenkins. 2011. Genetic and Phenotypic Parameter Estimates for Feed Intake and Other Traits in Growing Beef Cattle and Opportunities for Selection. J. Anim. Sci. 89: published ahead of print May 27, 2011, doi:10.2527/jas.2011-3961
• Snelling, W.M., M.A. Allan, J.W. Keele, L.A. Kuehn, R.M. Thallman, G.L. Bennett, C.L.Ferrell, T.G. Jenkins, H.C. Freetly, M.K. Nielsen, and K.M. Rolfe. 2011. Partial-genome evaluation of postweaning feed intake and efficiency of crossbred beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 89: 1731-1741.
• McDonald, J.M., J.J. Ramsey, J.L. Miner and M.K. Nielsen. 2009. Differences in mitochondrial efficiency between lines of mice divergently selected for heat loss. J. Anim. Sci. 87:3105-3113.
• Zhou, Y., S. Zheng, W. Sprout, J. McDonald, and M. K. Nielsen. 2008. Additional evidence showing an additive effect of glucocorticoid receptor polymorphisms on anxiety-type behavior, stress response and body weight in a population of mice with low heat loss background. FASEB. 22:6-8.
• McDonald, J.M. and M.K. Nielsen. 2007. Renewed selection for heat loss in mice: Direct responses and correlated responses in feed intake, body weight, litter size and conception rate. J. Anim. Sci. 85:658-666.
• Xu, D., A. Buehner, J. Xu, T. Lambert, L. Meyerle, C. Nekl, M.K. Nielsen, and Y. Zhou. 2006. A polymorphic glucocorticoid receptor in a mouse population may explain inherited altered stress response and increased anxiety-type behaviors. FASEB J. Express. doi: 10.1096/fj.06-5926fje:E1-E9.
• Eggert, D.L., and M.K. Nielsen. 2006. Comparison of feed energy costs of maintenance, lean deposition, and fat deposition in three lines of mice selected for heat loss. J. Anim. Sci. 84:276-282.
• McDonald, J.M, and M.K. Nielsen. 2006. Correlated responses in maternal performance following divergent selection for heat loss in mice. J. Anim. Sci. 84:300-304.
• Cammack, K.M., M.K. Nielsen, K.A. Leymaster and T.G. Jenkins. 2005. Estimates of genetic parameters for feed intake, feeding behavior, and daily gain in composite ram lambs. J. Anim. Sci.83:777-785.
• Leamy, L.J., K. Elo, M.K. Nielsen, L.D. Van Vleck, and D. Pomp. 2005. Genetic variance and covariance patterns for body weight and energy balance characters in an advanced intercross population of mice. Genet. Sel. Evol. 37:151-173.
• Nielsen, M.K. 2005. Genetics of Reproduction. In: The Mouse in Animal Genetics and Breeding Research. E.J. Eisen, Ed. Imperial College Press. London. pp. 161-176.
• Kgwatalala, P.M., J.L. DeRoin and M.K. Nielsen. 2004. Performance of mice lines divergently selected for heat loss when exposed to different environmental temperatures. I. Reproductive performance, pup survival and metabolic hormones. J. Anim. Sci. 82:2876-2883.
• Kgwatalala, P.M. and M.K. Nielsen. 2004. Performance of mice lines divergently selected for heat loss when exposed to different environmental temperatures. II. Feed intake, growth, fatness and body organs. J. Anim. Sci. 82:2884-2891.
• Wesolowski, S.R., M.F. Allan, M.K. Nielsen and D. Pomp. 2003. Evaluation of hypothalamic gene expression in mice divergently selected for heat loss. Physiol. Genomics 13:129-137.
• McDaneld, T.G., M.K. Nielsen and J.L. Miner. 2002. Uncoupling proteins (UCP) and energy expenditure in mice divergently selected for heat loss. J. Anim. Sci. 80:602-608.
• Mousel, M.R., W.W. Stroup and M.K. Nielsen. 2001. Locomotor activity, core body temperature and circadian rhythms in mice selected for high or low heat loss. J. Anim. Sci. 79:861-868.