Project

Evaluation of genetic diversity

Determination and evaluation of genetic diversity within livestock breeds is of crucial importance for making the right conservation decisions and for an efficient use of resources available for conservation.

This project has the general objective of exploring the opportunities of large amounts of marker data for conservation of genetic diversity within livestock breeds. The recent availability of dense marker maps (SNP markers) for livestock species enables the evaluation of diversity for specific regions of the genome, and genetic diversity for specific traits at different regions at the genome can be localized.

The aims in this study are:

  • develop scientific methods to evaluate genetic diversity across the whole genome using dense marker maps
  • apply these methods to case studies, with focus on the neutral diversity over the genome and the diversity of specific traits, and the effect of selection
  • translate the results into tools for the genetic conservation of livestock in gene banks


Publicaties