Dynamics of mean gain and variance analysis
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
The proposed research in quantitative genetics is concerned with genetic change (?G) and associated risks, such as introducing genetic diseases, related to the rate of inbreeding (?F). The approach taken will be to exploit the concept of a long-term genetic contribution of an ancestor that has been largely developed in our laboratory. It has provided a unifying concept and provided solutions to many long-standing genetic problems. The issues addressed will be: near-random mating where the benefits of mating will be combined into two weighted components corresponding to prospective and retrospective actions; improved operational tools (including markers) that exploit the results from the near random mating; linked gene flow to underpin improved linkage disequilibrium methods; and improved predictions for non-random mating and exponential contribution models.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
John Woolliams (Principal Investigator) |
Publications

Iheshiulor OO
(2016)
Within- and across-breed genomic prediction using whole-genome sequence and single nucleotide polymorphism panels.
in Genetics, selection, evolution : GSE

Jenko J
(2017)
Cow genotyping strategies for genomic selection in a small dairy cattle population.
in Journal of dairy science

Lewis T
(2007)
Genotype by mating type interaction for litter size in Landrace and Large White sows
in Animal Science

Lipschutz-Powell D
(2012)
Bias, accuracy, and impact of indirect genetic effects in infectious diseases.
in Frontiers in genetics

Luo Z
(2010)
Controlling inbreeding in dairy MOET nucleus schemes
in Animal Science

Meuwissen T
(2010)
Responses of multi-trait selection in open nucleus schemes for dairy cattle breeding
in Animal Science

Pong-Wong R
(2007)
Optimisation of contribution of candidate parents to maximise genetic gain and restricting inbreeding using semidefinite programming.
in Genetics, selection, evolution : GSE

Sinnett-Smith P
(2010)
Genetic variations in subcutaneous adipose tissue metabolism in sheep
in Animal Science

Sinnett-Smith P
(2010)
Effects of recombinant DNA-derived bovine somatotropin on growth, carcass characteristics and meat quality in lambs from three breeds
in Animal Science

Sinnett-Smith P
(2010)
Adipose tissue metabolism and cell size: variation between subcutaneous sites and the effect of copper supplementation
in Animal Science
Description | The work done on this grant has led to the development of the upper bound for achievable genetic gain for a given rate of inbreeding. This represents the highest efficiency for converting genetic variance into changes in the mean of the trait, for example during selection. It is generic for all diploid species which includes all livestock. At this optimum the most efficient selection schemes will have maximal avoidance of relatives during mating. |
Exploitation Route | They will be increasingly implemented by breeding programmes. |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
Description | These project underpins all effective control of inbreeding in breeding schemes in all managed populations from all plants to all animals. |
First Year Of Impact | 2009 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
Description | Chair of FAO Working Group on "Secondary Guidelines on Management of Small Populations at Risk" |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | Preparation for UN Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources and Interlaken Declaration in 2007 |
URL | http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1404e/a1404e00.htm |
Description | Membership of Defra National Consultative Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources, 2001 to 2002 |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | UK Country Report on Farm Animal Genetic Resources 2002. This was the first time this policy area was addressed and formed an international report to FAO. |
URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-country-report-on-farm-animal-genetic-resources-2002 |
Description | Membership of EAAP Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a advisory committee |
Impact | Informing EU policy on regulations and incentives for managing farm animal genetic resources. |
Description | Membership of FAO Drafting Group for 3rd Intergovernmental Technical Working Group, 2003 |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | Drafting resolutions for UN inter-governemental meeting on agricultural policies, ultimately leading to UN's Global Plan of Action for Farm Animal Genetic Resources and the Interlaken Agreement in 2007. |
URL | http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1404e/a1404e00.htm |
Description | Membership of FAO Working Group on Ex Situ Conservation of Livestock |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | Preparation for UN Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources and the Interlaken Declaration in 2007. |
URL | http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1404e/a1404e00.htm |
Description | Membership of FAO Working Group on In Situ Conservation of Livestock |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | Preparation for UN Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources and the Interlaken Declaration in 2007. |
URL | http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1404e/a1404e00.htm |
Description | Membership of FAO/ISZ Working Group on Implications of Developments in Biotechnology for the Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources at Risk: Reversible DNA Quiescence and Cloning. |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | Informed UN of scientific background to the existing cloning technology, separating fact from fiction. |
Description | INIA |
Organisation | National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Training, design and interpretation of studies, writing papers for journals |
Collaborator Contribution | Personnel, funding for personnel, scientific discussion, writing papers. |
Impact | Scientific papers. New PhDs and trained post-docs in Spain. |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Aas, Norway |
Organisation | Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) |
Country | Norway |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Supervised and lectured to postgraduate students. Provided intellectual input into science proposals, ongoing projects and outputs, including research papers. |
Collaborator Contribution | Facilities, students, intellectual stimulation, new project ideas, data, and other academic outputs such as scientific papers. |
Impact | Joint scientific papers. Joint scientific projects (UoE/NMBU). |
Description | University of Leon |
Organisation | University of Leon |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Training, design and interpretation of studies. |
Collaborator Contribution | Personel. Funding for personnel. |
Impact | Training, papers, new PhDs. |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | University of Osijek |
Organisation | University of Osijek |
Country | Croatia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Training of post-graduate student for a PhD. provison of data. |
Collaborator Contribution | Personnel and funding required. |
Impact | Evaluation models for boar taint to be used in selection. Training in breeding for a Croatian PhD. |
Start Year | 2010 |