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Use Of Molecular Genetic Technologies In Conservation & Selection Programmes
Published: Fri, 03 Dec 2004
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Research Note Full Title
Use of molecular genetic technologies in conservation and selection programmes
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Breeding programmes in farmed animals have placed considerable emphasis upon increasing performance for production traits. Narrow breeding objectives and intense and accurate selection have given rise to concerns over decreases in genetic variability and reductions in fitness-related traits.
In addition, there is a growing global awareness of the need for conservation of genetic resources of farmed species. Molecular genetic technologies can assist in the design of both selection and conservation programmes but it is not clear exactly how they should be deployed.
Objectives
Use of molecular genetic technologies in sustainable breeding programmes.
Research at SAC is investigating the optimal use of molecular genetic information in both selection and conservation programmes for livestock populations.
The research will:
- determine optimal selection and mating strategies for increasing gains but maintaining genetic variability
- give guidance on optimal selection and mating decisions in the genetic management of conservation programmes for minimising the loss of genetic variability
The issues outlined will be explored by computer modelling, with the ultimate aim of providing clear advice on the most appropriate design of breeding programmes that incorporate molecular genetic information.
Outcomes
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Achievements
Related past research at SAC has:
- Shown increased responses to selection from using identified genes in two-trait breeding goals Optimised selection tools, which restrict the loss of genetic variability, have been extended to the situation where the breeding goal includes two negatively correlated traits and an identified quantitative trait locus (QTL) explains a sizeable proportion of the genetic variance in one of the traits. Extra gains in the breeding goal were observed across generations from the combined use of optimised selection and QTL information.
- Shown increased responses to selection from combining information on pedigree and genetic markers in genetic evaluations - Molecular genetic information has been combined with pedigree information to compute the genetic relationships between animals with a high degree of precision. The use of molecular information leads to increases in the acccuracy of genetic evaluation from BLUP methodology (in comparison to standard BLUP that only makes use of pedigree information). This also leads to higher responses to selection.
- Shown the value of pedigree information for maintaining genetic variability in conservation programmes - The efficiency of the use of pedigree and molecular marker information, separately or in combination, to assist in the management of conserved populations has been investigated. Pedigree information has proved to be very helpful for maintaining genetic diversity. Marker information was however of very limited value when used alone.
Use of molecular genetic technologies in sustainable breeding programmes
Research at SAC is investigating the optimal use of molecular genetic information in both selection and conservation programmes for livestock populations.