Genetics, Breeding, & Animal Health Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
 

Research Project: EVALUATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND USE OF GENETIC RESOURCES TO IMPROVE LIFE-CYCLE EFFICIENCY OF BEEF CATTLE AND SHEEP

Location: Genetics, Breeding, & Animal Health

Title: Estimation Of The Proportion Of Variation Accounted For By DNA Tests. II: Phenotypic Variance

Authors
item Thallman, Richard
item Hanford, Kathryn -
item Kachman, Stephen -
item Kuehn, Larry
item Quaas, Richard -
item Tempelman, Richard -
item Fernando, Rohan -
item Pollak, Emil

Submitted to: World Congress of Genetics Applied in Livestock Production
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: May 9, 2010
Publication Date: August 1, 2010
Citation: Thallman, R.M., Hanford, K.J., Kachman, S.D., Kuehn, L.A., Quaas, R.L., Tempelman, R.J., Fernando, R., Pollak, E.J. 2010. Estimation Of The Proportion Of Variation Accounted For By DNA Tests. II: Phenotypic Variance. Proceedings of the 9th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Leipzig, Germany. August 1-6, 2010. CD-ROM Communication No. 0918.

Interpretive Summary: A relevant question in evaluating commercial DNA tests intended for application in marker assisted management (MAM) is "What proportion of the phenotypic variation in the target trait is accounted for by the test?" Therefore, two estimators of this quantity were evaluated by simulation of a population of 1000 animals with 100 sires, each with 10 progeny. One estimator was derived from a model including the target trait and the molecular genetic value (MGV) as a second trait. The MGV is a numerical value derived from the DNA test that predicts the total genetic merit of an animal. The second estimator was derived from single trait models for the target trait, with or without, the MGV in the model. Both estimators performed well and are recommended for evaluation of DNA tests for use in MAM.

Technical Abstract: The proportion of phenotypic variation accounted for (Rp2) is an important characteristic of a DNA test. Therefore, several estimators of this quantity were evaluated by simulation of 500 replicates of a population of 1000 progeny of 100 sires (3 levels of narrow sense heritability and 4 levels of Rp2). For each progeny, the observed trait and a molecular genetic value (MGV: prediction of total genetic merit from the DNA test) were simulated. The square of the phenotypic correlation from a two-trait animal model with the MGV and observed phenotype included as correlated traits can be used to estimate Rp2. The reduction in phenotypic variance between single trait sire models with and without the MGV covariate is an alternative estimator of Rp2. Both estimators worked well and are recommended for use.

   

 
Project Team
Leymaster, Kreg
Bennett, Gary
Kuehn, Larry
Keele, John
Thallman, Richard - Mark
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Food Animal Production (101)
 
 
Last Modified: 05/20/2013
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House