Animal Genetics and Breeding

Department of Animal Science

Central Luzon State University
Introduction

Genetics – science that deals with the study of

heredity and variations

Animal Breeding – Application of principles of

genetics to select the best animals based on human
needs
Genetics
 Animal Breeding

Photo by Tanya Lewis

 History of Genetics

Gregor Mendel
 History of Genetics
He postulated that traits are carried by
1 genetic material, which now known as
“gene”

He discovered that genes exist in

2 different form, “allele”

Alleles of different genes are inherited

Gregor Mendel 3 differently
 Discovered double strand of DNA

James Watson and Francis Crick

- Discovered that DNA exist as double helix
Terminologies
Gene - A gene is the basic physical and
functional unit of heredity. Made up of
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)

DNA - is the hereditary material in almost

all other living organisms.
Gene
Structural Gene Regulatory Gene
responsible for the synthesis control and regulate the
of certain biochemical functions of other genes
products (hormones & (on/off)
enzymes) during cell
metabolism
Nucleotides – DNA code of gene

Nucleotides
Adenine A
Thymine T
Guanine G
Cytosine C
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)- functional molecules that
translate DNA code
Protein
✔ Provide body’s main building materials
✔ Form cell architecture and structural components
✔ Limitation: multiplication
DNA Replication
Replication
- DNA multiplication

DNA Polymerase
- reads new template DNA strand and stitches
together the complementary new strand

Mutation
- Occasional deletion or duplications during
replication
- Others are caused by the environment:
sunlight and chemicals
• Mutation – error in gene sequence
– Incorrect protein
– No protein
– Not all are harmful (ex. Brown eyes)
Mutations
Natural mutation in myostatin gene in beef
cattle led to the development of Belgian Blue
breed that has double-muscling trait
 Chromosomes
Classification
A. Homologous -
chromosome pairs that
are similar in length,
gene position, and
centromere location.
B.Heterologous -
chromosomes are the
chromosomes that differ
in type, function, or size
Chromosome Number
2N 2N

Man 46 Sheep 54
Horse 64 Goat 60
Donkey 62 pig 40
Mule 63 Dog 78
Cattle 60 Cat 38
Domestic Buffalo 48 Rabbit 44
Murrah Buffalo 50 Mouse 40
Cross (N x B) 49 Rat 42
Reindeer 70 Chicken 78
Llama 74 Duck 80
Turkey 82
 Cell Division
Type of Cells
A. Autosome – body cells
– Diploid – from “di” means 2 and “ploid” means sets of
chromosomes
– Cell division : mitosis
B. Sex cells – gametes: egg and sperm cell
– Haploid
– Cell division : mitosis and meiosis
 Chromosome
Locus – location of a gene in a
chromosome
Allele – those genes that
occupy corresponding loci in
homologous chromosomes
but that affect the same
characteristics in a different
way
ex. height
Gene in a loci
Homozygous gene – gene
correspond to each other
Heterozygous gene – gene
contrast in response

Example – Coat color

Black – WW
Homozygous gene
Red – ww
Black - Ww Heterozygous gene
 Expression: Tall
Allele
Dominant allele
Gene that
overpower/dominates the
expression of the other
Symbolizes by capital letter T dwarf t
Recessive allele
Allele whose expression is
suppressed
Phenotype Genotype
Characteristics that can be Actual genetic make-up
perceived by the naked eye

Phenotype Genotype

Height Tall, dwarf TT, tt, Tt

Color Black, Red, BB, bb, Bb

Roan
 Fundamental Types of mating
Dam Sire
Coat Color : Black Coat Color : Red
Genotype : BB Genotype : bb

Sire

Dam
b b Phenotypic Ratio: All Black
Genotypic Ratio: All Bb
B
Bb Bb
B
Bb Bb
 Fundamental Types of mating
Dam Sire
Coat Color : Black Coat Color : Black
Genotype : Bb Genotype : Bb

Sire
Phenotypic Ratio:
Dam
B b 3 Black: 1 red
Genotypic Ratio:
B
BB Bb 1 BB: 2Bb : 1bb

b
Bb bb
 Multiple Traits
Dam Sire
Coat Color : Black and Polled Coat Color : Black and horned
Genotype : BBPP Genotype : Bbpp
Gametes: BP Gametes: Bp bp

Sire

Dam
Bp bp Phenotypic Ratio:
All Black and Polled
BP BBPp BbPp Genotypic Ratio:
1BBPp: 1BbPp
 Phenotypic Expression

Phenotype = G + E (G X E)

Where:
G = Genotype
E = Environment
G x E = Interaction between genotype and environment
Gene Interactions
1. Linear Interaction – gene interaction on the same
chromosome
2. Allelic Interaction – gene interacts with the
corresponding gene in a homologous chromosome
3. Epistatic Interaction – gene in heterologous
chromosome
4. Internal Interaction – interaction with hormone
5. External Interaction – interaction with external
environment (light, nutrition, etc.)
 Allelic Interaction
Dominance interaction
Lack of Dominance
LL – long ears, ll – short ears Ll- earless
Overdominance
✔ Heterosis – implies that heterozygotes possess greater
vigor or are more desirable in other ways
✔ Hybrid vigor – higher productivity
Overdominance
Example: Sickle cell anemia
SS= normal,
ss = anemic (both die of malaria)
S = normal RBC, s = sickle shape RBC
Ss = resistant to malaria due to heterosis
Epistatic Interaction
• A gene or a pair of gene in one pair of chromosomes
may alter or mask the expressions of gene in other
chromosome
• Example
horse color – Black (EE) and chestnut (ee)
Epistatic gene – White (WW or ww)
EEWW or EEWw – White EEww – Black
EeWW or EeWw-White Eeww- Black
eeWW or eeWe - White eeww – Chestnut
 Probability in genetics
• Using punnett squares - Reginald Punnett
• Using fork line method
• Applying multiplication and addition rules
• Here are some links to help with laboratory exercises
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1PCwxUDTl8&t=19s
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4Ne9DXk_Jc
Type of Crosses
1. Monohybrid cross
2. Dihybrid cross
3. Backcross
4. Test Cross
Animal Breeding
Important Parameters
1. Heritability estimates (h2)- portion of the total
phenotypic variation that is due to heredity
Production traits – moderately to highly heritable
Reproductive traits – lowly heritable
2. Repeatability estimates (R)- refer to expression
of the same trait at different stages of life of the
same individual
 MECHANICS OF INHERITANCE
Flow of Genetic Materials is through :
REPRODUCTION –Includes both physical and
physiological processes from fertilization to
development of young

Two Processes involved:

A. GAMETOGENESIS = spermatogenesis; oogenesis
B. FERTILIZATION = restores the diploid
chromosomes
BREEDING
- application of animal genetic principles to improve
animal performance;
❑ QUANTITY
❑ EFFICIENCY OF PRODUCTION
❑ QUALITY OF ANIMALS / PRODUCTS

SELECTION
-certain animals are preferred for the production of
the next generation
NATURAL SELECTION
survival of the fittest

ARTIFICIAL SELECTION
with human intervention to improve existing breeds and
strains
 SELECTION METHODS USED:
1.TANDEM- genetic progress is aimed over a group of 2
or 3 traits one at a time

2. INDEPENDENT CULLING – each trait should meet a

certain standard set for the purpose, if 1 trait among 3
traits does not meet the std. then animal is rejected

3. SELECTION INDEX – most applicable when selecting

for more than 1 quantitative trait simultaneously with
their corresponding importance or weights
 SELECTION FOR SUPERIOR STOCKS

1. INDIVIDUALITY- selection is based on phenotype for a particular

trait

2. PEDIGREE –record of individual’s ancestors “pedigree clean” –

without history of bad genes

3. PROGENY TEST – animals are rejected or accepted depending

on the performance of their progenies when subjected to a standard
test
4. COLLATERAL RELATIVES – based on performance of
distant relatives (aunts, uncles, half-brothers, half sisters

5. SPECIFIC COMBINING ABILITIES – if some traits that

an animal possess can combine well (nicking ability) with
other traits (genes affect expression of other genes) and
the effect of environment
 MATING SCHEMES
INBREEDING
-PROGENIES ARE PRODUCED BY PARENTS MORE CLOSELY RELATED BY DESCENT
THAN THE AVERAGE OF THE POPULATION FROM WHICH THEY ORIGINATED

INBREEDING DEPRESSION – OPPOSITE OF

HYBRID VIGOR
- INCREASE HOMOZYGOSITY
-BRINGS RECESSIVE GENES TOGETHER BUT NOT INCREASING THE RECESSIVE
GENES
-FIXES CHARACTERS IN THE POPULATION OF INBRED LINES
-WITH SELECTION MAY INCREASE PHENOTYPIC UNIFORMITY
 Inbreeding – mating of closely related
animals
Parents A x B

F1 AB
1 If AB female is mated back to A, it is sire to daughter mating
2. If AB becomes a boar and mated to B it is son to dam mating
3. If AB is mated to AB it is brother-sister mating
LINE BREEDING
-MILD FORM OF INBREEDING TO CONCENTRATE THE
INHERITANCE OF ONE ANCESTOR (USUALLY MALE) OR ONE LINE
OF ANCESTORS IN THE LINE BRED
INDIVIDUALS

EXAMPLE: HALF-SIB MATING

-SHOULD BE USED IN A PUREBRED

POPULATION
CROSSBREEDING

-MATING OF 2 OR MORE UNRELATED

DIFFERENT BREEDS (INCREASE HETEROZYGOSITY OF
GENES)

HETEROSIS OR HYBRID VIGOR IS ACHIEVED

- IMPROVED PERFORMANCE OF
CROSSBREDS OVER THE PARENTS
Crossbreeding

1. Two-way cross – mating of two different breeds of

pigs
Largewhite X Landrace

crossbred
2. Three- way cross – mating of three different breeds of
pigs

A(100) x B(100)

AB (50A,50B) x C(100)

ABC (25A:25B:50C)
3. Four-way cross or hybridization – mating of four
different breeds of pigs

A(100) x B(100) CxD

AB(50A,50B) x CD(50C,50D)

ABCD (25A: 25B: 25C: 25D)

OUTCROSSING (PUREBREEDING)
-MATING OF UNRELATED ANIMALS WITHIN THE SAME BREED

Landrace boar X Landrace Sow

Landrace offspring
OTHER TYPE OF OUTCROSSING
UPGRADING OR GRADING–UP
-IMPROVE BLOODLINE OF NATIVE BREED

Parents A x B = AB 50% A
F1 A x AB = AAB 75% A
F2 A x AAB = AAAB 87.5% A
F3 A x AAAB = AAAAB 93.75% A
• Artificial Insemination- still considered the most useful
and applicable strategy of increasing the genetically
superior genes from proven sires and dam
- where collected semen is (quality, fresh or frozen)
deposited to female reproductive system through
catheter (AI gun)
• Genetic engineering or recombinant DNA technology –
techniques to construct new combinations of DNA
molecules that do not exist naturally
a. Splitting of DNA –split chemically by enzymes
b. Splicing – isolation of gene fragment from one
organism
c. Recombinant DNA – new hybrid molecule called
recombinant DNA inserted into an organism ( change
in the organism’s physical traits)
d. Gene cloning – specific genes to produce specific
products
e. Gene library – collection of plasmids representing
entire genomic DNA
f. Gene therapy – introduction or transferring of gene
(normal copy of defective gene) causing certain defect
to an individual
g. DNA fingerprinting – Exam of individual genetic
blueprint- its own DNA
h. Gene splicing – plucking of gene for a specific trait from
one organism, transplant to another
 Current works on gene editing
• Deletion or insertion of genetic component
• CRISPR/Cas9 - clustered regularly interspaced short
palindromic repeat/ CRISPR-associated (Cas) protein 9
system
• TALEN - transcription activator-like effector nuclease
• ZFN - Zinc finger nuclease