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Genomics and biotechnology in poultry breeding
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an increase in selection accuracy ranging from 5% to 50% over conventional selection depending on the trait. For turkeys, the impact of genomic selection means an additional rate of genetic gain of about +20grs of live weight and -0.01 FCR per year.
Genomics in poultry breeding
S. Avendano and S. Tyack Aviagen Ltd, Newbridge, Edinburgh, UK
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Since the release of the chicken and turkey DNA sequences in 2004 and 2010, respectively, poultry breeders have access to genomic information to increase accuracy of selection. The term genomic selection refers to the use of the naturally occurring DNA variation in the genome to predict breeding values. Genomic selection is routinely used in broiler, turkey and layer commercial breeding programmes. Aviagen incorporated genomic selection in broiler and turkey breeding programmes in 2013 and 2017, respectively. The company predicts that genomic selection will contribute with
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The use of DNA for predicting breeding values constitutes a recent breakthrough that allows combining traditional sources of information (e.g. pedigrees and phenotypic records) with the naturally occurring variation in the genome. It is key to emphasise that this process does not involve manipulating or artificially altering the genomic information in any way, but rather enhances the selective breeding process. The following sections focus on techniques which are not currently used in commercial breeding programmes. These techniques, collectively called New Breeding Technologies (NBT’s), rely on biotechnology applications to achieve specific novel changes in the genome. Aviagen will focus on a specific NBT technique called Gene Editing (GE) providing recent examples of its potential application in plants, livestock and poultry breeding and human medicine and discuss the current regulatory framework.
Biotechnology in agriculture and the emergence of new breeding techniques In 1973 Boyer and Cohen create the first genetically engineered organism – a bacteria with an added gene to confer antibiotic resistance. This began the pursuit of modifying organisms for the improvement of species and their modification for research purposes. In 1982 the United States Food
