| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pfizer Animal Health, New York, NY 10017
Abstract
The past century has seen animal breeding and genetics evolve and expand from definition and validation of basic population genetics theory to development of selection index theory to today's relatively sophisticated genetic prediction systems enabling industry genetic improvement. The end of the first century of the American Society of Animal Science also coincides with the rapid movement of the field into the era of genome-enabled genetic improvement and precision management systems. Led by recent research infrastructure investments by the U.S. and international partners to develop chicken, bovine, swine, ovine, and equine "genome toolboxes", the animal breeding community is poised to play a crucial role in the century to come. These genome toolboxes provide the needed platforms for developing whole genome selection programs based on linkage disequilibrium for a wide spectrum of traits; allow the opportunity to re-define genetic prediction based on allele sharing as opposed to traditional pedigree relationships; and provide for the first time simultaneous information upon which to practice genetic selection and plan precision management of specific genotypes, all early in the life of the animal. An area of major focus will be mining of the genomes through systems biology approaches to better understand gene and metabolic networks --what has previously been lumped into poorly understood genotype by environment and genotype by genotype interactions. Perhaps the greatest obstacle to the successful merger of genomic and quantitative approaches will be the lack of necessary animal resource populations to appropriately define and measure phenotypes, i.e., the so-called "phenomic gap", for difficult to measure traits such as resistance to disease and stress, adaptability, longevity, and efficiency of nutrient utilization. Additionally, due to de-emphasis of quantitative genetics and animal breeding programs in academia over the past quarter century, a dearth of qualified young scientists to effectively mine the genomes must immediately be addressed. Whilst the motivating factors may have changed, the need for high quality animal breeding and genetics research and education has never been higher.
Key Words: Animal breeding • genomics • whole genome selection
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH |
