Animal Genetics
Explore this journal >
1365-2052/asset/AGE_large.jpg?v=1&s=d27e9def41c5efbc3f906534eee8e84e2df0247d)
Review
Molecular tools and analytical approaches for the characterization of farm animal genetic diversity
Address for correspondence
J. A. Lenstra, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
E-mail: j.a.lenstra@uu.nl
Summary
Genetic studies of livestock populations focus on questions of domestication, within- and among-breed diversity, breed history and adaptive variation. In this review, we describe the use of different molecular markers and methods for data analysis used to address these questions. There is a clear trend towards the use of single nucleotide polymorphisms and whole-genome sequence information, the application of Bayesian or Approximate Bayesian analysis and the use of adaptive next to neutral diversity to support decisions on conservation.