ARS | Publication request: THE U.S. MARC GENOME PROGRAM: MAP DEVELOPMENT AND LINKAGE ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN DNA MARKERS AND TRAITS IN FARM ANIMALS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: November 1, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: The USDA genome initiative was designed to develop the reagents necessary to implement marker assisted selection for the major livestock species in the United States. This required development of a sufficient number of genetic markers to build genomic maps spanning the entire genome. Swine and cattle are the two species of greatest economic importance in the United States so our efforts were focused on developing genetic maps for these two species. The approaches taken for porcine and bovine mapping were similar. The research was divided into two segments: development of genomic maps and identification of regions or genes affecting economically important traits. These regions likely contain quantitative trait loci (QTL). The maps were developed from reference populations and resource populations for both species were developed for identification of QTL. A sheep genetic map was developed from the bovine map and a resource population was produced.