After the well attended National Workshop on Genome Research in Winnipeg last summer, those of us involved in research on the genomes of livestock had a good feeling. Broad participation in the Workshop from Canadian universities, government laboratories, and industry was encouraging and the level of interest in the subject among the participants seemed high. Unfortunately, after the workshop, action is not as rapid as we had hoped.
While the work on mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) is making satisfactory progress in chickens through the Agriculture Canada - USDA collaborative project, progress in other species of livestock is slow. The main weakness is the lack of suitable resource populations, such as those now available for the chicken work. This problem could be best remedied if adequate research funding for all important species of livestock would become available. And this is the source of concern which the author wants to express in this editorial.
A major setback for the Canadian genome research efforts occurred after the Winnipeg Workshop. An application for support of genome research in the government laboratories from the National Biotechnology Strategy Funds was unsuccessful. The negative outcome was surprising and disappointing in view of the effort we gave in preparing the national, multi-species genome research proposal to cover three years, starting in 1995. It seems that the proposal fell victim to an unusual and somewhat questionable project selection process. The proposal for genome research in livestock that, so far, lacks industry funding, was apparently judged similar to such projects in plants that are strongly industry funded.
Work on preparation for the submission of a Special Collaborative Research Project to Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council that would fund primarily university research is in progress, and its first phase is expected to be completed in early 1995. The national animal biotechnology network 'Biozootech' is prepared to fund a meeting of the participants to work out the details of the submission. Other sources of funds for the genome research are being explored by the individual researchers.
Future profitability of livestock production will rely on a rapid response to continuous changes in consumer preferences and environmental concerns of the society. There is no doubt that, in developed countries, health issues, convenience factors and increasingly sophisticated palates will drive future product quality and production trends. In the developing world, the increases in demand for food of animal origin due to population increases and raised affluence will similarly require rapid improvements in livestock production practices.
Genome research aims at development of techniques for genome selection that will be incorporated in breeding programs. The important feature of genome selection is that selection decisions are based directly on parameters derived from the genotype, such as Quantitative Trait Loci or their markers, rather than phenotypic measurements of production traits. The most important outcome of these modern breeding programs will be acceleration of genetic changes to meet the changing and increasing needs. It is becoming obvious that only breeding organizations capable of mounting modern breeding programs that will include genome selection will have a chance of success.
Canadian livestock breeding industries figure prominently among world leaders. This is documented by the annual exports of livestock breeding material in excess of $ 100 million. While it took a long time to gain these export markets, they, as well as much of our domestic markets, can be quickly lost if our breeding technology does not keep pace with the most advanced nations of the world - our competitors. These nations, such as the USA, Australia, UK, and Netherlands are making major strides in genome research and its applications.
The situation in long-term perspectives of Canadian livestock breeding industries is becoming critical due to insufficient efforts hampered primarily by lack of adequate funding of genome research. Let us hope that this situation will be soon remedied by joint action of researchers, funding institutions, and the industry.
Random amplified polymorphic DNA/polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) is used to assess genetic variation within and genetic distances among silver fox herds. The measures are being related to inbreeding depression for reproductive traits.
Microsatellite DNA probes serve as single-locus polymorphic markers for mink. These tools are used to assess inbreeding and estimate inbreeding depression for reproductive traits. These data can also be used in collaboration with others to establish a saturated genetic linkage map. Hossain's coworkers include Parvis Sabour at CFAR, M. A. Johnson, Animal Industry Branch, Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Marketing and J. M. Wright, Dalhousie University, Halifax.
Efforts by CFAR scientists (Gavora and associates) have resulted in the development of special populations of chickens that will play a major role in cooperative research now being formalized with the Avian Diseases and Oncology Laboratory (ADOL) of USDA at East Lansing, Michigan. These special F2 populations were designed for mapping of quantitative trait loci. For the first phase of the work, DNA from the parental populations will be analyzed for 200 to 300 DNA markers already developed at ADOL and at the Compton Laboratory in the UK. About 100 of these markers are expected to be polymorphic and therefore useful in typing the F2 populations.Because these F2 populations will be tested for production traits at CFAR, production data will be used along with the DNA typing for the 100 plymorphic markers to determine if any of the markers can be used in selecting for quantitative traits. In future, these markers may also be used to study association with disease resistance and longevity.
Dr. Urs Kuhnlein and Dr. Jan Gavora are on a change of venue to advance their expertise. Dr. Kuhnlein is spending three months in Australia on sabbatical leave and Dr. Gavora is in France for six months on a transfer of work program. Both will return later this year and bring new knowledge to the genome effort in Canada.
The major interests relate to bovine research, mouse as a model animal and linkage analysis. Alta genetics is a close working partner. The Animal Genetics Laboratory, previously headed by Bob Church, provides cytogenetic analysis for a variety of species., in vitro fertilization embryo cytogenetic assay of frozen bovine semen, DNA fingerprinting, DNA marker development, testing for HYPP in Quarter Horses. Sexing probes for ratites are under development. Markers affecting lipid metabolism in cattle, developed as probes for human gene mapping, will be used to study marbling. Other markers will be evaluated as measures of increased muscle mass and tenderness. Multiple Markers will be developed for genotyping bovine embryos prior to transfer or cryopreservation.
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