Animal breeding - Latest research and news (2025)

Genome-wide discovery of selection signatures in four Anatolian sheep breeds revealed by ddRADseq

• Bahar Argun Karsli
• Eymen Demir
• Sarp Kaya

An intronic copy number variation in Syntaxin 17 determines speed of greying and melanoma incidence in Grey horses

Greying with age in horses is caused by an intronic copy number variation in the Syntaxin 17 gene. Here the authors report that the G2 allele with two copies of the duplicated sequence causes slow greying whereas G3 with three copies causes fast greying and a high risk of melanoma.

• Carl-Johan Rubin
• McKaela Hodge
• Leif Andersson

Characterization of bovine vaginal microbiota using 16S rRNA sequencing: associations with host fertility, longevity, health, and production

• L. Brulin
• S. Ducrocq
• J. Estellé

Genetics and ontogeny are key factors influencing thermal resilience in a culturally and economically important bivalve

• Natalí J. Delorme
• Nick King
• Norman L. C. Ragg

Genome-wide variation study and inter-tissue communication analysis unveil regulatory mechanisms of egg-laying performance in chickens

Egg-laying performance is an important phenotype for breeding chicken. Here, the authors explore the regulatory networks driving phenotypic differences in egg-laying, and identify laying-related variants and endocrine factors.

• Dandan Wang
• Lizhi Tan
• Xiaojun Liu

Herbal extract dietary supplementation effect on growth performance and meat quality in broiler raised under two stocking densities

• Mohammad D. Obeidat
• Muhy Eddin M. Alkhateeb
• Ibrahim A. Al Sukhni

Ovine HOXB13: expanding the gene repertoire of sheep tail patterning and implications in genetic improvement

Recent findings implicating homeobox B13 (HOXB13) as a regulator of sheep tail length and their impact on sheep breeding via selection-based strategies and molecular genetics-based tools are discussed.

• Peter Kalds
• Shuhong Huang
• Xiaolong Wang

Use surplus laboratory animals as animal feed

• Katja Hose
• Stefan Nagel-Riedasch
• Thorsten Buch

The impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on the genetic integrity of your mouse colonies

Are your mouse colonies in the best state to resume experiments? A short commentary on some key issues to consider when moving forward.

• Natalia Moncaut
• Sarah Hart-Johnson

Nonhuman primate models for SARS-CoV-2 Research: Managing demand for specific-pathogen-free (SPF) animals

The SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the demand for specific-pathogen-free (SPF) nonhuman primates (NHPs) for development of vaccines and therapeutics, thus straining the supply of these animals for biomedical research studies. Non-SPF animals, which are available in greater numbers and include well-characterized primate species, should be considered in lieu of limited SPF animals for appropriate research studies.

• Miguel A. Contreras
• Matthew E. Arnegard
• Stephanie J. Murphy

Nonhuman primate models for SARS-CoV-2 research: Cryopreservation as a means to maintain critical models and enhance the genetic diversity of colonies

Nonhuman primate (NHP) models, the most predictive preclinical models for human diseases and treatment outcomes, are in high demand and limited supply. There is a need for improved cryopreservation methods and routine storage of gametes and embryos, which are vital to protecting unique genetic models as well as providing resources for enhancing the genetic diversity of NHP colonies.

• Matthew E. Arnegard
• Sheri Ann Hild

Leveraging genomic diversity to promote human and animal health

Genomic diversity is a driving force influencing human and animal health, and susceptibility to disease. During the Keystone Symposium on Leveraging Genomic Diversity to Promote Human and Animal Health held in Kampala on Lake Victoria in Uganda, we brought together diverse communities of geneticists with primary objectives to explore areas of common interest, joint technological and methodological developments and applications, and to leverage opportunities for cross-learning. We explored translational genomics research in farmed animals and humans, debated the differences in research objectives in high- and low-resourced environments, delved into infectious diseases and zoonoses affecting humans and animals and considered diversity and cultural context at many levels. The 109 participants were from 22 countries (13 in Africa) and included 44 global travel awardees from 9 countries, equal numbers of men and women, of whom 31 were students and 13 senior investigators.

• Michèle Ramsay
• Han G. Brunner
• Appolinaire Djikeng