Potential of promotion of alleles by genome editing to improve quantitative traits in livestock breeding programs

Jenko, J and Gorjanc, G and Cleveland, M A and Varshney, R K and Whitelaw, C B A and Woolliams, J A and Hickey, J M (2015) Potential of promotion of alleles by genome editing to improve quantitative traits in livestock breeding programs. Genetics Selection Evolution, 47 (55). pp. 1-34. ISSN 0999-193X

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Abstract

Abstract Background Genome editing (GE) is a method that enables specific nucleotides in the genome of an individual to be changed. To date, use of GE in livestock has focussed on simple traits that are controlled by a few quantitative trait nucleotides (QTN) with large effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of GE to improve quantitative traits that are controlled by many QTN, referred to here as promotion of alleles by genome editing (PAGE). Methods Multiple scenarios were simulated to test alternative PAGE strategies for a quantitative trait. They differed in (i) the number of edits per sire (0 to 100), (ii) the number of edits per generation (0 to 500), and (iii) the extent of use of PAGE (i.e. editing all sires or only a proportion of them). The base line scenario involved selecting individuals on true breeding values (i.e., genomic selection only (GS only)-genomic selection with perfect accuracy) for several generations. Alternative scenarios complemented this base line scenario with PAGE (GS + PAGE). The effect of different PAGE strategies was quantified by comparing response to selection, changes in allele frequencies, the number of distinct QTN edited, the sum of absolute effects of the edited QTN per generation, and inbreeding. Results Response to selection after 20 generations was between 1.08 and 4.12 times higher with GS + PAGE than with GS only. Increases in response to selection were larger with more edits per sire and more sires edited. When the total resources for PAGE were limited, editing a few sires for many QTN resulted in greater response to selection and inbreeding compared to editing many sires for a few QTN. Between the scenarios GS only and GS + PAGE, there was little difference in the average change in QTN allele frequencies, but there was a major difference for the QTN with the largest effects. The sum of the effects of the edited QTN decreased across generations. Conclusions This study showed that PAGE has great potential for application in livestock breeding programs, but inbreeding needs to be managed.

Item Type: Article
Divisions: RP-Grain Legumes
CRP: CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes
Uncontrolled Keywords: Livestock breeding programs; Genome editing; Genome sequence; Genomics
Subjects: Others > Genetics and Genomics
Depositing User: Mr Ramesh K
Date Deposited: 07 Jul 2015 08:14
Last Modified: 26 Apr 2018 07:24
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/8843
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12711-015-0135-3
Projects: UNSPECIFIED
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement: This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://​creativecommons.​org/​licenses/​by/​4.​0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://​creativecommons.​org/​publicdomain/​zero/​1.​0/​) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
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