Ms. Zhang Li | Agronomy | Research Excellence Award
College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University and Institute of Animal Husbandry, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences | China
Ms. Zhang Li is a Master’s Candidate at the College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, jointly affiliated with the Institute of Animal Husbandry, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science, specializing in Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction with a strong research focus on gene-edited livestock improvement and molecular mechanisms governing growth and development in Chinese Merino sheep (Xinjiang type); she has actively contributed as a core member to several major national and autonomous region-level scientific and technological programs including high-impact initiatives on efficient sheep breeding technologies, precision breeding strategies for cattle and sheep, and the establishment of advanced in vitro embryo production systems supporting the creation of gene-edited sheep; she is proficient in CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, RNA-seq transcriptome analysis, and RT-qPCR validation and has applied these technologies to investigate the regulatory pathways associated with MSTN gene knockout, leading to the identification of differentially expressed genes and key molecular regulators influencing body weight, body measurements, and muscle development; her first-author publication in a leading Q1 SCI-indexed journal presents significant insights into the effects of MSTN gene editing on growth performance and muscle transcriptomic profiles in Chinese Merino sheep, contributing valuable knowledge to the field of molecular breeding; she has collaborated closely with the Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science on gene-edited sheep growth performance evaluation and played a role in the development of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Sheep Engineering Research Center; her work supports regional livestock improvement programs and provides a scientific foundation for enhancing productivity, genetic advancement, and sustainable development within the sheep industry, positioning her as a promising young researcher in animal genetics and molecular breeding.
Featured Publications :
Zhang, L., Li, P., Wang, X., Kong, M., Wu, W., & Zheng, W. (n.d.). Effects of MSTN gene knockout on growth performance and muscle transcriptome in Chinese Merino sheep (Xinjiang type). Animals. Advance online publication.