Researchers say collaboration is key to determining the ultimate genotypes of plants and livestock
Use of synthetic biology. An alternative approach to constructing ultimate genotypes is to first clone ultimate haplotypes into yeast or mammalian artificial chromosomes (MACs) before inserting these haplotypes into the target genome using Cas9 guide RNA. . The animal silhouettes were created with Vecteezy. SCNT, somatic cell nuclear transfer; Credit: Nature Genetics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01942-0
In their search for the ultimate genotype, University of Queensland researchers are setting the challenge of breeding high-yielding, heat-tolerant and disease-resistant crops and low-emission cattle with excellent feed conversion efficiency.
Professor Ben Hayes, from UQ’s Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), said the ultimate genotype could improve the performance of the best individuals in a seed population by up to six times, leading to improved dairy cows, He said it has been proven in wheat and chickpeas.
“With the genome profiling of millions of cows and plants now underway, it is difficult to determine what the ultimate genotype is, where the best genomes from the entire population pile up to form one ‘ultimate individual.’ “You can imagine what it’s like,” Professor Hayes said.
“We believe that rapid advances in gene editing and synthetic biology are potential pathways to reach that goal as quickly as possible.”
Professor Hayes said there were limitations to trying to achieve the ultimate genotype using traditional methods. “Even with rapid breeding of crops or in vitro fertilization of cattle, our digital twin simulations show that breeding the ultimate genotype will take many generations,” he said.
“Animal welfare and fitness are paramount when doing this in livestock, as improving a single trait can have a negative impact on other traits.
“The climate is also changing rapidly, so targets are constantly moving and consumer preferences are changing at the same time.
“That’s where gene editing and synthetic biology come in. These techniques can help us obtain the ultimate genotype in just a few generations.”
Professor Ian Godwin, a plant geneticist at QAAFI, said the potential was huge. “If successful, this technology could transform plant and animal breeding,” Professor Godwin said. “Interestingly, we have already accelerated our ability to edit one or two genes and create new gene combinations.
“Our simulations show that the level of genetic progress will be even higher if we can edit a large number of genes simultaneously.”
Professor Godwin said international collaboration was essential for this approach to be successful, and work was already underway through the International Research Training Group and the UQ-led ARC Training Center for Predictive Breeding.
“We are calling on other genetics groups around the world to come forward and collaborate with us. We aim to deliver these things from glass chambers and laboratories to society.” field. ”
This perspective is published in Nature Genetics.
Further information: Ben J. Hayes et al, Potential approaches for creating the ultimate genotypes in crops and livestock, Nature Genetics (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01942-0
Provided by University of Queensland
Citation: Collaboration key to ultimate plant and livestock genotypes, researchers say (November 19, 2024) https://phys.org/news/2024-11-collaboration-key-ultimate- Retrieved November 19, 2024 from genotypes-livestock.html
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