Our research centers on the development of any statistical and computational methodologies aimed at bringing together cutting-edge knowledge across a broad spectrum of biology including genetics, development, ecology, physiology, evolution, and biomedicine. We are particularly interested in the use of systems biology approaches to derive genetic models, statistical methods and computational algorithms for detecting and mapping specific genetic variants that affect complex traits in any organism. By seeking an elegant unification of powerful statistical methods with biological, cytological or molecular foundations behind quantitative inheritances, we will provide an organizing framework for understanding the coherent behavior of a whole biological system from the integration and coordination of its parts.

July 10, 2008
Group picture taken on July 10, 2008
Left to Right: John Yap, Yao Li, Kiranmoy Das, Qin Li, Rongling Wu, Oleksandr Savenkov, Jiangtao Luo, Song Wu, Jiang Liu, Arthur Berg, Jiahan Li

Selected Publications

Wu, R. L., C.-X. Ma and G. Casella, 2007 Statistical Genetics of Quantitative Traits: Linkage, Maps, and QTL. Springer-Verlag, New York.
Wu, R. L., and M. Lin, 2008 Statistical and Computational Pharmacogenomics. Chapman & Hall/CRC, London.
Wu, R. L., S. Wu, and J. S. Yap, 2008 High-Dimensional Statistical Genetics in Plants. Springer-Verlag, New York (in press).
Zhao, W., and R. L. Wu, 2008 A wavelet-based functional mapping of longitudinal trajectories. Journal of the American Statistical Association 103: 714-725.
Ma, C.-X., Q. B. Yu, A. Berg, G. F. Fu, J. S. Yap, A. X. Tan, M. Kirst, Y. H. Cui and R. L. Wu, 2008 A statistical model for testing the pleiotropic control of phenotypic plasticity of a count trait. Genetics 179: 627-636.
Wu, S., J. Yang and R. L. Wu, 2007 Semiparametric functional mapping of quantitative trait loci governing long-term HIV dynamics. Bioinformatics 23: i569-i576.
Li, Y. C., Y. Li, S. Wu, K. Han, Z. J. Wang, W. Hou,Y. R. Zeng and R. L. Wu, 2007 Estimation of linkage disequilibria in diploid populations with multilocus dominant markers. Genetics 176: 1879-1892.
Liu, T., R. J. Todhunter, S. Wu, W. Hou, R. Mateescu, Z. W. Zhang, N. I. Burton-Wurster, G. M. Acland, G. Lust and R. L. Wu, 2007 A random model for mapping imprinted quantitative trait loci in a structured pedigree: An implication for mapping canine hip dysplasia. Genomics 90: 276-284 (selected as a feature article).
Lin, M., W. Hou, H. Y. Li, J. A. Johnson and R. L. Wu, 2007 Modeling interactive quantitative trait nucleotides for drug response. Bioinformatics 23: 1251-1257.
Wu, R. L., and W. Hou, 2006 A hyperspace model to decipher the genetic architecture of developmental processes: Allometry meets ontogeny. Genetics 172: 627-637.
Wu, R. L., and M. Lin, 2006 Functional mapping – A new tool to study the genetic architecture of dynamic complex traits. Nature Reviews Genetics 7: 229-237.
Wu, R. L., and C.-X. Ma, 2005 A general framework for statistical linkage analysis in multivalent tetraploids. Genetics 170: 899-907.
Lou, X.-Y., G. Casella, R. J. Todhunter, M. K. C. Yang and Wu, R. L., 2005 A general statistical framework for unifying interval and linkage disequilibrium mapping: Towards high-resolution mapping of quantitative traits. Journal of American Statistical Association 100: 158-171.
Wu, R. L., C.-X. Ma, M. Lin, Z. H. Wang and G. Casella, 2004 Functional mapping of growth quantitative trait loci using a transform-both-sides logistic model. Biometrics 60: 729-738.
Ma, C. X., G. Casella, and R. L. Wu, 2002 Functional mapping of quantitative trait loci underlying the character process: A theoretical framework. Genetics 161: 1751-1762.
Wu, R. L., X.-Y. Lou, C.-X. Ma, X. L. Wang, B. A. Larkins and G. Casella, 2002 An improved genetic model generates high-resolution mapping of QTL for protein quality in maize endosperm. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 99: 11281–11286.