Genome dynamics in livestock breeding: how the features of the genome affect breeding

Animal breeding makes use of the genetic variation between individuals of a population. Modern farm animal breeding makes use of genomic selection, using DNA tests of markers spread out over the genome to connect genetic variants to traits under selection, and make accurate selection decisions.

To make breeding more sustainable and precise, we need to understand how the features of the genome affects breeding. Accumulated sequence data and new methods make realistic models of genomes possible.

We need to know:

1. How variable recombination and mutation affect genetic variation in livestock
2. How evolutionary history and linkage constrain genetic variation in livestock
3. How genome features affect our ability to detect and select genetic variants that affect traits

This project will analyse sequence from cattle, pigs and chickens to discover how genetic variation is distributed in the genome, in order to improve our understanding of how the features of the genome affect breeding.