The new USDA blueprint for animal genome research 2018–2027: A quantitative geneticist's perspective

Authors: Cole, John

Submitted to: Plant and Animal Genome Conference
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/5/2020
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The recent publication of the new USDA blueprint for animal genome research provides a framework for the next decade of livestock research. From the point-of-view of quantitative genetics, the centerpiece of the blueprint is the centrality of phenotypes – observable characteristics of individual animals – in the document. The bridge from genotype to phenotype is, ultimately, a prediction problem, and animal breeders are intimately familiar with the use of large datasets to predict genetic merit and, increasingly, actual performance. However, the cost of measuring many new phenotypes is prohibitive, requiring a precise understanding of what is to be measured. Human capital also is important, as the pool of trained quantitative geneticists remains limited.