SNP, or not SNP? Is this the question?

Abstract

Genetic evaluations (GE) of commercial species have led to reached an efficient selection of the main economic relevant traits. Despite the great number of QTLs (quantitative trait loci) found in the last years, these have had limited application in formal breeding programs. However, the recent development of high density marker panel (SNP - single nucleotide polymorphism) has allowed the Genomic Selection (GS) application. The objective of this work is to analyze the GS impact in animal breeding and to list the considerations to take into account when genomic projects are developed. The GS allows a potential improvement of the GE mainly by increasing the breeding value accuracy and reducing the generation interval. This specially occurs in traits that are difficult or costly to record, those expressed in only one sex or late in the animal’s life. Previous to begin GS projects, is important to define: (1) Target traits, which must be economically relevant and strategic for the specie/breed/country; (2) Reference population for the association studies; (3) The multidisciplinary team; (4) The incoming frequency of new genotypes; and (5) The amount for initial investment. In this process, the phenomics plays a role as a support science for genomics, which will valorize the recording systems.