Michael F. Seldin, MD, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus
4453 Tupper Hall
Davis Campus
Ph: 530-754-6016
Fax: 530-754-6015
e-mail

Research Interests

Our laboratory studies the genetics/genomics of the inheritance of complex human diseases and human population genetic substructure. Collectively, our studies ascertain and apply genotypes from hundreds of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms in sample sets of several thousand individuals in efforts to define various aspects of human variation that result in medically important traits. Analytic methods include the application of different algorithms to perform genome-wide association screens, define population groups, admixture mapping, conduct genetic epidemiology studies and suggest evidence for natural selection. Specific disease studies include ongoing efforts in systemic lupus erythematosus, primary biliary cirrhosis, myasthenia gravis, and rheumatoid arthritis as well as collaborative studies in the Women’s Health Initiative.

Graduate Group Affiliations

Plenge RM, Seielstad M, Padyukov L, Lee AT, Remmers EF, Ding B, Liew A, Khalili H, Chandrasekaran A, Davies RL, Li W, Tan AK, Bonnard C, Ong RT, Thalamuthu A, Pettersson S, Liu C, Tian C, Chen WV, Carulli JP, Beckman EM, Altshuler D, Alfredsson L, Criswell LA, Amos CI, Seldin MF, Kastner DL, Klareskog L, Gregersen PK. TRAF1-C5 as a risk locus for rheumatoid arthritis--a genomewide study. N Engl J Med, 2007. 357(12): 1199-1209.

Remmers EF, Plenge RM, Lee AT, Graham RP, Hom G, Behrens TW, de Bakker PI, Le JM, Lee HS, Batliwalla F, Li W, Masters SL, Booty MG, Carulli JP, Padyukov L, Alfredsson L, Klareskog L, Chen WV, Amos, CI, Criswell LA, Seldin MF, Kastner DL, Gregersen PK. STAT4 and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. N Engl J Med, 2007. 357(10): 977-986.

Thorburn CM, Prokunina-Olsson L, Sterba KA, Lum RF, Seldin MF, Alarcon-Riquelme ME, Criswell LA. Association of PDCD1 genetic variation with risk and clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus in a multiethnic cohort. Genes and Immunity, 2007. 8(4): 279-287.

Seldin MF. Admixture mapping as a tool in gene discovery. Current Opinions in Genetics and Development, 2007. 17(3): 177-181.

Tian C, Hinds DA, Shigeta R, Adler SG, Lee A, Pahl MV, Silva G, Belmont JW, Hanson RL, Knowler WC, Gregersen PK, Ballinger DG, Seldin MF. A genomewide single-nucleotide-polymorphism panel for Mexican American admixture mapping. Am J Hum Genet, 2007. 80(6): 1014-1023.

Seldin MF, Tian C, Shigeta R, Scherbarth HR, Silva G, Belmont JW, Kittles R, Gamron S, Allevi A, Palatnik SA, Alvarellos A, Paira S, Caprarulo C, Guillerón C, Catoggio LJ, Prigione C, Berbotto GA, García MA, Perandones CE, Pons-Estel BA, Alarcon-Riquelme ME. Argentine population genetic structure: large variance in Amerindian contribution. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2006. 132(3): 455-462.

Seldin MF, Shigeta R, Villoslada P, Selmi C, Tuomilehto J, Silva G, Belmont JW, Klareskog L, Gregersen P. European population substructure: clustering of northern and southern populations. PloS Genetics, 2006. 2(9): 1339-1351(e143:1-13).

Tian C, Hinds DA, Shigeta R, Kittles R, Ballinger DG, and Seldin MF. A genomewide single-nucleotide–polymorphism panel with high ancestry information for African American admixture mapping. Am J Hum Genet, 2006. 79(4): 640-649.

Upper division courses

  • 192 Internship in Biological Chemistry
  • 198 Group Study
  • 199 Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates

Graduate courses

  • 231 Biomedical NMR (same as BPH 231)
  • 291 Human Genetics Seminar
  • 298 Group Study
  • 299 Research

Professional courses for medical students

  • 410A Molecular and Cell Biology
  • 410B Cell Biology and Metabolism
  • 498 Group Study
  • 499 Research