Genomic Selection

Question 1

What is genomics?

Answer 1

study of how the genome (DNA) of any species is organized and expressed as traits

Question 2

Why are livestock and poultry genomes sequenced?

Answer 2

to understand how various genes function

Question 3

What have new technologies allowed for?

Answer 3

examination of an organism’s genome as a whole rather than 1 gene at a time

Question 4

Applications in genetic improvement?

Answer 4

• find easily detected genetic differences among animals
• develop SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) panels to detect those differences
• relate SNP differences to productivity differences
• rank animals on their economic merit
• use best animals as parents of the next generation

Question 5

What animals is genomics used for? (has federal support)

Answer 5

• cattle
• sheep
• swine
• poultry
• horses
• aquaculture

Question 6

How do we use genomics?

Answer 6

• identify DNA sequences associated with disease resistance and production traits
• animals can be evaluated as soon as DNA can be obtained (even before birth)
• best animals to be parents can be determined earlier and more accurately

Question 7

What do genetic markers allow for?

Answer 7

inheritance to be followed in a region across generations

Question 8

What is the marker of choice?

Answer 8

SNPs

Question 9

Why is 770K Chip used?

Answer 9

• allows predictions to be less breed specific

- higher SNP density than 50K chip

Question 10

Are markers required to be part of a gene?

Answer 10

no

Question 11

What are gene markers?

Answer 11

segment of DNA at a unique physical location in the genome that varies sufficiently between individuals that its inheritance can be tracked through families

Question 12

What have genomics revolutionalized?

Answer 12

animal breeding

Question 13

What is genomic selection used extensively in?

Answer 13

dairy cattle breeding

Question 14

What has been important for genomics success?

Answer 14

international collaboration

Question 15

What do high quality genotypes do?

Answer 15

support detection of parentage and other errors