Location: Agricultural Genetic Resources Preservation Research
Project Number: 3012-31000-007-020-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Mar 1, 2025
End Date: Feb 28, 2027
Objective:
To conduct research that increases the capabilities of the National Animal Germplasm Program (NAGP) to conserve and utilize chicken genetic resources. Effective conservation involves understanding and/or use of live animal populations, genetics, cryopreservation, and information. The NAGP addresses these genetic resource issues by the following elements:
1. Understanding the population dynamics of poultry breeds (both numerically and genetically).
2. Acquiring and storing cryopreserved germplasm (where possible) from food animal species.
3. Evaluating potential viability of germplasm in cryostorage as well as improving the efficacy of cryopreserving germplasm.
Together, these 3 elements will be used to develop, optimize, and validate chicken ARTs and create a collection of secure genetic resources for U.S. producers.
Approach:
Cooperator and ARS will collaborate on research that:
1. Optimizes the collection and preservation of chicken embryonic gonads to ensure maximal derivation of high-quality primordial germ cells (PGCs) from tissue culture, resulting in our ability to create a secure collection of high quality chicken genetic resources and repopulate lines using the sterile host technologies when needed.
2. Improves rooster sperm cryopreservation methodologies, thus enabling greater fertility when using frozen-thawed rooster sperm and artificial insemination.
