About the Animal Breeding and Genetics groupThe Animal Breeding and Genetics group actively participates in the Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences graduate school (WIAS).
The graduate school WIAS aims to improve our understanding of animals and their various roles for mankind through fundamental and strategic research and training of young researchers.
In 2004, WIAS was subjected to an international peer review, in which the Animal Breeding and Genetics group was characterized as follows:The research programme of the Animal Breeding and Genetics group aims at identifying the biological role of genetic factors in the functioning of farm animals and the design of optimum schemes for long-term selection. To achieve this, the group combines expertise in the fields of quantitative genetics, molecular genetics and biology.
For many years the group has a very strong position in quantitative genetics and good contacts with applied animal breeding. In the early 1990s, the group extended its position by incorporating molecular genetic research. In recent years, the group integrated the quantitative and molecular genetic approach and placed substantially more emphasis on non-traditional traits (welfare, health, product quality).
The following interrelated components can be distinguished:
- Quantitative genetic analysis: definition of breeding objectives, estimation of genetic variation in functioning (health, welfare and production) of animals and the relationship between traits, design of selection schemes.
- Molecular genetic analysis: identification and study of the role of individual genes.
- Biological background: characterising the biological background of genetic differences between animals.
The group combines expertise in quantitative and molecular genetics research to quantify and subsequently unravel the genetic variation between animals. The analysis of traits requires a sound understanding of the biological background of traits. For the latter, the group has chosen for stronger collaboration with other groups within and outside WIAS.
Quantitative genetic analyses of experimental data and commercial populations are carried out to obtain insight into the impact of genetic and environmental factors on the characteristics of animals. Developments in the areas of statistics and computing continue to enable more realistic modelling and analysis of traits. Examples of the latter are the use of reaction norms in the analysis of environmental sensitivity of animals, and the analysis of patterns of production/longitudinal observations. Our research on breeding schemes aims at finding the optimum balance between selection response and maintenance of genetic variation. We have developed deterministic methods to predict rates of inbreeding in populations under selection. In addition, research is conducted of strategies to quantify and conserve genetic diversity (including molecular information).
Quantitative and molecular genetic analysis provides insight into the magnitude of genetic differences and specific genes involved in economically important traits. To obtain a better understanding of the differences in performance between animals with different genetic merit or genotype, more detailed studies on the underlying biological background are needed. A better understanding of the physiological consequences of genetic differences will contribute to improved selection strategies through avoidance of negative effects of selection and an improvement of selection criteria.
Molecular genetic research has concentrated on the development of tools (genotyping, bio-informatics) and resources (BAC bank, SNPs) needed for the (fine) mapping of genes in poultry, and to a lesser extend in pigs. The analysis and interpretation of fine mapping studies is carried out by teams of quantitative and molecular geneticists. Analyses have revealed chromosomal regions which carry genes with major effects on a wide range of traits. Further dissection of such regions is underway. Our group is actively involved in the international consortium for sequencing the poultry genome, which is providing early access to the information. The identification of polymorphism in functional genes will offer the opportunity to study gene regulation and gene expression as well as the physiological/ biological differences between animals with different genotypes.
The eventual peer review report gave us good grades and assesses us as follows:Name of Chair: Animal Breeding and Genetics
Current holder: Prof. J.A.M. van Arendonk
Average research input 14.3 fte
Research input in 2003 13.9 fte
| Assessment (scale 1-5): |
| | Overall programme | 5 | | Scientific quality | 5/4 | | Productivity | 4 | | Relevance | 4 | | Viability and feasibility | 5/4 |
The Animal Breeding and Genetics programme has impressive academic resources and leadership, and a particularly strong and well focused mission and strategy; it has first-rate facilities and a well-demonstrated academic recognition and competitiveness both in NWO and contract funded research. It is conducting a very substantial-scale programme of work which matches the highest international standards in its field. It is a group with an extremely strong performance profile; and its lack of important weaknesses in any area of its activities contributes to the achievement of excellence for the research programme overall.
The group has formulated a very clear strategy which it has achieved with some distinction for a number of years; this is well-evidenced in the group’s international reputation and by its presence and high profile in international networks.
The productivity of the group is very good, as is the relevance of its research programme and its research outputs.
With its clear focus on two disciplines - quantitative genetics and molecular genetics - the group is successfully maximizing the effective use of its available resources.
The group is well aware of the limitations of the focus on genetic disciplines: it may limit the required integration with other disciplines in animal sciences. We support the group's concern about this and would recommend a stronger effort for integrated research projects with other groups in WIAS and with other parts of the Animal Sciences Group. The molecular genetics group of Animal Breeding and Genetics, especially, should seek to develop joint projects with other research groups working in the fields of animal health and nutrition. Likewise, whilst there is active co-operation of the group with its Lelystad counterparts, the extent of cooperation could still be much improved and developed into a true, and highly productive, collaboration.
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