Genes & Traits for Healthy Animals: Identifying the genomic basis of complex traits in farmed animals
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: The Roslin Institute
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
This programme will sustainably enhance animal productivity, efficiency and welfare by dissecting genotype-phenotype relationships and their biological basis. We will define the genomic architecture of production-relevant traits to guide breeding decisions.
Planned Impact
unavailable
Organisations
- University of Edinburgh (Lead Research Organisation)
- Makerere University (Collaboration)
- Genus plc (Collaboration)
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) (Collaboration)
- Cobb Vantress (Collaboration)
- Cherry Valley Farms (Collaboration)
- Geno Global Ltd. (Collaboration)
- Scotland's Rural College (Collaboration)
- AbacusBio (Collaboration)
- Bayer (Collaboration)
- Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (Collaboration)
- Aviagen (Collaboration)
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Collaboration)
- Lohmann Tierzucht (Collaboration)
Publications
Antonios S
(2023)
Partitioning of the genetic trends of French dairy sheep in Mendelian samplings and long-term contributions
in Journal of Dairy Science
Bancic J
(2024)
A framework for simulating genotype-by-environment interaction using multiplicative models
in Theoretical and Applied Genetics
Bancic J
(2023)
Genomic selection for genotype performance and stability using information on multiple traits and multiple environments
in Theoretical and Applied Genetics
Barría A
(2023)
Genetic differentiation following recent domestication events: A study of farmed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) populations.
in Evolutionary applications
De La Herrán R
(2023)
A chromosome-level genome assembly enables the identification of the follicule stimulating hormone receptor as the master sex-determining gene in the flatfish Solea senegalensis.
in Molecular ecology resources
Desire S
(2023)
A genome-wide association study for loin depth and muscle pH in pigs from intensely selected purebred lines
in Genetics Selection Evolution
Friedrich J
(2023)
Mapping restricted introgression across the genomes of admixed indigenous African cattle breeds.
in Genetics, selection, evolution : GSE
Fummey E
(2024)
Estimating cancer risk in carriers of Lynch syndrome variants in UK Biobank.
in Journal of medical genetics
Ghaderi Zefreh M
(2023)
Exploring the value of genomic predictions to simultaneously improve production potential and resilience of farmed animals.
in Frontiers in genetics
Ghaderi-Zefrehei M
(2024)
Genetic variance components of the growth curve for Isfahan indigenous chicken.
in Veterinary medicine and science
| Description | ai-pignet: the ai of social interactions for next gen smart animal breeding |
| Amount | £322,799 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/Y513891/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2024 |
| End | 08/2025 |
| Description | building a refernce quality annoated genome assembly for red maasai sheep as a resource to understand complex traits such as susceptibility to gi helminth infection |
| Amount | £245,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RF2302 |
| Organisation | The Roslin Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 07/2026 |
| Description | developing genomic breeding strategies for east-african crossbred dairy cattle (gs-boat) |
| Amount | £224,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | rf2303 |
| Organisation | The Roslin Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2023 |
| End | 10/2025 |
| Description | genetic and molecular regulation of beak tip (rhinotheca) shape in layer hens |
| Amount | £808,218 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/X015904/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 09/2026 |
| Description | genetic and molecular regulation of beak tip (rhinotheca) shape in layer hens |
| Amount | £808,218 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/X015904/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 09/2026 |
| Description | roslin foundation phd studentships-rf2023/001 |
| Amount | £560,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RF/2023/001 |
| Organisation | The Roslin Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 09/2027 |
| Description | supporting nile tilapia production through the introduction of modern genomic and breeding tools for indigenous farmed strains in uganda |
| Amount | £35,346 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2023 |
| End | 01/2024 |
| Description | Agreements with Genus regarding use of AlphaSuite & next-generation sequencing data |
| Organisation | Genus plc |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We negotiated agreements with Genus regarding access to our AlphaSuite resource for animal breeding data and simulation. Additionally, we negotiated access to next-generation sequencing data that can be used to link the genotype of pigs with their quantitative traits, a key resource for this programme. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and datasets (confidential). |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Application of genomic tools to enhance tilapia aquaculture in Uganda |
| Organisation | Makerere University |
| Country | Uganda |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | With funding from round 6 of the GCRF Agri-Tech for Africa scheme, we are genotyping tilapia farmed in aquaculture systems in Uganda as part of a strategic alliance with Makerere University. The aim is to understand genetic diversity in populations and guide decisions for selective breeding of improved tilapia. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of samples and expertise. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Application of software to simulate breeding schemes and outcomes. |
| Organisation | Geno Global Ltd. |
| Country | Norway |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We collaborate with Geno Global Ltd to support their breeding of Norwegian Red cattle, the main dairy breed in Norway. We are applying our expertise in quantitative genetics and software to simulate breeding schemes in order to optimise genetic contributions to production-relevant traits. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to genotype and phenotype records Geno, a farmer-led cooperative for the breeding of Norwegian Red cattle. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Automated monitoring of aggression in pigs to inform selective breeding for enhanced welfare. |
| Organisation | Genus plc |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We are working with Genus under a BBSRC Industrial Partnering Award to implement video imaging to follow social interactions in pigs and aggression (e.g. tail biting). The long-term aim is to use such data as a measurable phenotype linked to the genotype of the animals to inform selective breeding of pigs less prone to aggression. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contractually confidential. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics & Health |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | We recently renewed $10M investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to sustain the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics & Health to 2027. CTLGH involves collaboration between The Roslin Institute, ILRI and SRUC and aims to drive genetic gain in poultry and cattle indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa. It involves contributions from researchers funded by this programme and adds significant value to its objectives. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative research. |
| Impact | Significant progress is being made in dissecting the genomic architecture of production and health traits in farmed animals indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the basis of adaptation to different environments. This will inform the design of breeding strategies that aim to bring lasting genetic improvements. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics & Health |
| Organisation | International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | We recently renewed $10M investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to sustain the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics & Health to 2027. CTLGH involves collaboration between The Roslin Institute, ILRI and SRUC and aims to drive genetic gain in poultry and cattle indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa. It involves contributions from researchers funded by this programme and adds significant value to its objectives. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative research. |
| Impact | Significant progress is being made in dissecting the genomic architecture of production and health traits in farmed animals indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the basis of adaptation to different environments. This will inform the design of breeding strategies that aim to bring lasting genetic improvements. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics & Health |
| Organisation | Scotland's Rural College |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We recently renewed $10M investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to sustain the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics & Health to 2027. CTLGH involves collaboration between The Roslin Institute, ILRI and SRUC and aims to drive genetic gain in poultry and cattle indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa. It involves contributions from researchers funded by this programme and adds significant value to its objectives. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative research. |
| Impact | Significant progress is being made in dissecting the genomic architecture of production and health traits in farmed animals indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the basis of adaptation to different environments. This will inform the design of breeding strategies that aim to bring lasting genetic improvements. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Datasets relating to the functional annotation of the avian genome. |
| Organisation | Cobb Vantress |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration builds on joint research between Roslin and Cobb to understand how genetic variation may affect the expression and regulation of genes, based on rich functional annotation of the avian genome. It has been primed by past FTMA awards to allow a researcher to work with Cobb in the US, including to create computational workflows for data integration and analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to genome data, provision of expertise in kind. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Development on non-linear selection indices for hybrid breeding programmes. |
| Organisation | AbacusBio |
| Department | AbacusBio UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The primary objective of this project is the development of non-linear selection index methodologies, specifically designed for hybrid breeding programs. This objective is an important methodological advance for all breeding programmes, because we always select on multiple traits. In this project, we will focus on a hybrid plant breeding programme due to interest from private multinational breeding companies, such as Bayer Crop Sciences, however the methodologies can be adapted to other species. The non-linear index work will focus on two crucial traits: yield and moisture. The overarching goal of a breeder involves increasing yield while concurrently maintaining consistent moisture levels based on a profit function involving seed yield and cost for drying the seed. Increasing yield while reducing moisture tends to lead to an amplified unfavourable correlation. This correlation complicates application of non-linear indexes and hampers the effectiveness of breeding programmes. In this project we will develop methods to work with non-linear selection index to address these types of problems. |
| Collaborator Contribution | AbacusBio are a tenant in the Roslin Innovation Centre and make a financial contribution to the project as part of a BBSRC Campus Innovation Accelerator Account. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Implementing genomic selection in a major duck breeding programme. |
| Organisation | Cherry Valley Farms |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Roslin researchers have partnered with Cherry Valley Farms to implement genomic selection in their duck breeding programme (the largest in the UK). This has involved implementing genotyping of ducks and statistical association with production-relevant quantitative phenotypes in order to design breeding programmes that optimise genetic contributions to relevant traits. Our contribution to similar programmes with Genus and Aviagen was the foundation for a REF2021 impact case study. The work was catalysed by an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership award and Flexible Talent Mobility Award to promote joint working at the Roslin-business interface. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to genotypes, phenotypes and knowledge in-kind (value hard to predict as the data is commercially sensitive). |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Integration of multi-'omics data to predict the impact of genetic variation in chickens. |
| Organisation | Aviagen |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Research conducted by a researcher with a joint appointment between The Roslin Institute and Aviagen Ltd. The collaboration involves integration of 'omics datasets to predict how genetic variation in chickens may act (e.g. combining data on genetic variation with the location of genes and regulatory elements, transcripts, epigenome data etc). Previously primed by a Flexible Talent Mobility Award. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Datasets. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Novel strategies for genomic selection. |
| Organisation | Bayer |
| Department | Bayer CropScience Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | An Innovation Fellow funded by Edinburgh Innovations has been appointed to support genomic selection in crop breeding with Bayer Crop Sciences. This partly applies theory developed for animal breeding and build on collaborative research initiated by Professors Hickey and Gorjanc at Roslin. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Datasets. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Understanding the determinants of beak morphology toward control of injurious feather pecking |
| Organisation | Lohmann Tierzucht |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | With a BBSRC Industrial Partnering Award we are collaborating with Lohmann, a major breeder of laying hens. Our aim is to understand the basis of beak morphology with the long term aim of modifying beak shape to mitigate injuries due to feather pecking. The project will study gene expression and cellular phenotypes as the beak develops, as well as the role of specific genes and pathways. The collaboration was partly primed by exchanges that were funded by a BBSRC Flexible Talent Mobility Award to Roslin. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding and access to animal resources and expertise. The in-kind contributions are hard to quantify. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Understanding the genetic basis of bone fractures in laying hens. |
| Organisation | Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration builds on BBSRC-funded research on the genetic basis of bone strength in laying hens, particularly susceptibility to keel bone fractures that are a major impediment to welfare and production. These studies have also involved a long-standing partnership with Lohmann Breeders GmbH. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Funding. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Understanding the impact of epigenetic regulation in semen used for artificial insemination. |
| Organisation | Genus plc |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Artificial insemination is widely used in the breeding of ruminants to select animals of with enhanced traits based on knowledge of genotype-phenotype relationships. It is less well understood how expression of the genome may be controlled by epigenetic modifications, for example that may reflect the life history of the donors. We have partnered with Genus to explore this. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Semen samples from animals of defined genotype and genomic breeding values for quantitative traits. |
| Impact | Ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | "Cute Egg" at Border Union Agricultural Society Countryside Education Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Cute Egg is an interactive activity about the function and quality of the cuticle layer on hen's eggs, developed and delivered by the Dunn reseach group at RI. Audience members at the Border Union Agricultural Society's Countryside Education Day (P6 pupils and teachers from all primary schools in the Scottish Borders) dye eggs to reveal the quality of their cuticle and find out about its role in protecting the egg from harmful bacteria, facilitated by staff and PGRs from RI. More info about Cute Egg: https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/community-engagement/resources/cute-egg/about |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | "Oysters in Edinburgh" at Edinburgh Science Festival 2024 (food, drink and science event) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Evening event for adults at the 2024 Edinburgh Science Festival, combining talks on RI research in oyster biology/natural history, genetics, disease resistance, native oyster conservation projects, social history of oysters in Edinburgh, food (five types of oysters) and matching drinks, with small group discussions and audience Q&A. Supported by RI oyster scientists and PE team. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | A classroom resource to support teachers to explore how gel electrophoresis works with their pupils. Gel Electrophoresis Wall Tank |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A classroom resource to support teachers to explore how gel electrophoresis works with their pupils. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Big Baloon Blow Up - Project Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This Project Science investigation, designed for teachers to use in the classroom with learners aged 9-14, is used to explore the question "Do yeast need sugar to grow?". The investigation builds confidence in using the scientific method and reveals RI research on the cow microbiome and implications for climate change mitigation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | DNA & the Genome | PCR Masterclass: A Question of Taste |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A full-day PCR workshop that aims to engage and inspire final and penultimate high school biology pupils, giving them the opportunity to work with real lab equipment and reagents, supported by RI academic/scientific staff and PGRs, who also discuss their own research and career paths. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Free downloadable resources created to engage and inspire upper primary pupils, secondary pupils and teacher. based on our collection of "Meet a Roslin Scientist" short videos and scientist profiles that explore what scientists do, who they are and how they got into science. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Free downloadable resources created to engage and inspire upper primary pupils, secondary pupils and teachers, based on our collection of "Meet a Roslin Scientist" short videos and scientist profiles that explore what scientists do, who they are and how they got into science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Lab Techniques: Gel Electrophoresis in Action. Video designed to support Higher Biology and Higher Human Biology learners to develop their knowledge and understanding of PCR. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This video has been designed to support Higher Biology and Higher Human Biology learners to develop their knowledge and understanding of PCR. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Lab Techniques: PCR in Action. Video designed to support Higher Biology and Higher Human Biology learners to develop their knowledge and understanding of gel electrophoresis. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This video has been designed to support Higher Biology and Higher Human Biology learners to develop their knowledge and understanding of gel electrophoresis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | More Muil Zuri! A 'Science in the Classroom' resource. Includes interdisciplinary curriculum links with science, social science, literacy and sustainability, and reveals RI and CTLGH research. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A 'Science in the Classroom' resource (designed for use with pupils aged 8 to 14 years old) developed in partnership with CTLGH to accompany the "More Milk Zuri?!" educational comic. Pupils follow the story of Zuri's quest to discover how genetics can help her to produce enough milk for all of the children in her village. Includes interdisciplinary curriculum links with science, social science, literacy and sustainability, and reveals RI and CTLGH research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Pondering Pond Life Microbiology Toolkit. Free, downloadable microbiology toolkit (designed for use with primary and early secondary pupils) was developed with Roslin researchers with funding from the Microbiology Society. The toolkit includes a teaching guide, pupil worksheet, classroom presentation and template risk assessement, and reveals RI research on lung microorganisms. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This free, downloadable microbiology toolkit (designed for use with primary and early secondary pupils) was developed with Roslin researchers with funding from the Microbiology Society. The toolkit includes a teaching guide, pupil worksheet, classroom presentation and template risk assessement, and reveals RI research on lung microorganisms. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Science @Home- Big Balloon Blow Up |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This Science@Home investigation (designed for families to use with young learners aged 9-14) is used to explore the question "Do yeast need sugar to grow?". The investigation builds confidence in using the scientific method and reveals RI research on the cow microbiome and implications for climate change mitigation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Science @Home- Marvellous Mixtures. 'Science @Home' investigation (designed for families to use with young learners aged 9-14) used to explore the question "Can I separate my leafy mixture?". |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This 'Science @Home' investigation (designed for families to use with young learners aged 9-14) is used to explore the question "Can I separate my leafy mixture?". The investigation builds confidence in using the scientific method and reveals RI research using chromatography to analyse metabolites. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | interview with Chancellor's fellow around a study in microorganisms in poultry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | interview with a Chancellor's Fellow Researching communities of bacteria in animals' guts, and advocating for equality and inclusion on campus. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/meet-our-scientists/dr-laura-glendinning-on-studying-microor... |
| Description | interview with career track fellow around applying mega-scale data sets to animal breeding |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | interview with a career track fellow Developing a niche research area in statistical genetics to tackle the challenge of enabling sustainable livestock in a changing world. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/meet-our-scientists/dr-ivan-pocrnic-on-applying-mega-scale-d... |
| Description | new article communicating Genetic patterns linked to production traits in key fish species |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Discovery of genes showing signatures of recent domestication could inform production of farmed Nile tilapia. Scientists have identified genes showing evidence of breeding for desirable traits in one of the world's most widely farmed fish, which could inform their production and have the potential to increase food security. Genetic analysis revealed genes associated with muscle development and fillet yield in a region of the chromosome showing evidence of changes brought about by selection on the genome, either from environmental effects or human-mediated breeding. The finding makes the genetic variants in this region potential targets for selective breeding of fish for market, researchers say. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/latest-news-2023/genetic-patterns-linked-to-production-trait... |
| Description | news article communicating a University and ILRI renew livestock research partnership |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | the article outlines how a Renewed Memorandum of Understanding creates research alliance to transform food systems and enhance sustainable livestock production. This article also appeared in Why Africa, Ghana News Online, Research Professional News |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/latest-news-2023/university-and-ilri-renew-livestock-researc... |
| Description | news article communicating how Cost-efficient analysis helps breed disease-resistant fish |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | the article demonstrates how Genetic technique makes breeding healthy animals more accessible to small and medium-scale fish farming producers. A cost-effective method for breeding rainbow trout to be resistant to a common bacterial infection has been developed by scientists. Researchers applied a novel analysis strategy, based on a relatively small number of variations within DNA, to a popular European farmed fish. This enabled the team to identify fish that are naturally resistant to the disease, and guide breeding for healthier animals. The team, from the Roslin Institute, in collaboration with the Natural Resources Institute of Finland, found that their approach using a relatively low number of variations, or genome markers, was as reliable as outcomes based on large sets of markers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/latest-news-2023/cost-efficient-analysis-helps-breed-disease... |
| Description | news article communicating how DNA reference for key fish species aids food security |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Resource detailing genome of Nile tilapia supports sustainable farming of important strain of livestock. A reference DNA code for a genetically improved strain of a key species of fish offers the potential to improve food security for millions of the world's poorest people. The fundamental resource will support fish breeders to develop strains of Nile tilapia that grow large, grow quickly, and are resilient to the environmental challenges of a warming planet. The detailed resource also reveals substantial genetic variation in farmed strains of tilapia, highlighting the need to use the strain-specific resource to inform future breeding programmes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/latest-news-2023/dna-reference-for-key-fish-species-aids-foo... |
| Description | news article communicating how Honey bee genetic data resource has potential to cut research costs and help scientists identify key genes for healthy breeding. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Honey bee genetic data resource has potential to cut research costs and help scientists identify key genes for healthy breeding. Researchers have created a resource that allows the scientific community to better understand the genetic diversity of honey bees. The resource, called AmelHap, can be used to help identify genes associated with traits such as disease resistance and honey production. AmelHap was developed to help scientists identify the genetics of native strains of bees and understand the extent of breeding between different strains. It can also be used to infer missing information in data from whole-genome analyses, driving down research costs. The international collaboration was led by researchers at the Roslin Institute and Beebytes, a community interest company based at the Roslin Innovation Centre specialising in honey bee genetics. The research processed genetic data for over 1,300 honey bees sampled across 19 countries. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/latest-news-2023/genetic-resource-can-support-honey-bee-bree... |
| Description | news article communicating how a US$3m bone insight study aims to support hen welfare? International team seeks to improve understanding of factors contributing to strength of important bone in laying hens. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This article also appeared in La Vanguardia and Agronoma. It is a project to understand bone health in laying hens aims to support their health and welfare, and inform breeding selection as industry moves towards non-caged systems. Outcomes from the US$3m international study will inform the selection of hens suited to egg production, whose breastbones are vulnerable to fractures, especially in non-caged birds. The collaboration led by Roslin scientists aims to develop a process of directly assessing the health of chicken's keel bone, or sternum. Additionally, researchers will seek to better understand how nutrition can be optimised in caged and non-caged hens, and how the timing of maturity in hens, when they start to lay, affects subsequent bone quality. The five-year study is funded by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research via the US Department of Agriculture. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/latest-news-2023/3m-bone-insight-study-aims-to-support-hen-w... |
| Description | news article communicating how an Optimised technique aids research in tough tissues in a range of species |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | the article which also appeared in The Fish Site and Fish Farming Expert outlines how a study identified A protocol to extract genetic material from hard or frozen tissue will aid research in a range of species. A research team has developed a protocol to study the genetic makeup of tough tissue, such as fish skin and fins.Their technique, which optimises an existing method of extracting the nucleus from cells to study their DNA and RNA, meets a need for a standardised practice to remove the nucleus from a variety of tissue cells. This allows scientists to study the cells' genome, helping them understand how cells function. This method was developed to work with Atlantic salmon, as obtaining good quality nuclei from skin samples has previously been challenging, experts report. The protocol, from a Roslin Institute team, has since been adapted for use in different tough or flash-frozen tissue and in a variety of species, such as mice, sharks, rabbits, shrimp and sea lice. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/latest-news-2023/optimised-technique-aids-research-in-tough-... |
| Description | news article demonstrating Genetic material linked to dairy calf development, communicating how Molecular material associated with growth, fertility, and infection risk in dairy calves could serve as indicator of productivity in cows. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Key traits in the early development of dairy cattle are influenced by small strands in their genetic material, scientists have found. The research team set out to investigate which genes are involved in cattle growth and infection, to aid understanding of early-life predictors of health and productivity. Early development in dairy cattle is known to impact on later milk production, so understanding calves' early life performance in terms of growth, infection risk and fertility could serve to predict their longer-term health and productivity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/latest-news-2023/genetic-material-linked-to-dairy-calf-devel... |