Genetic contributions and their optimization

• Published in: Journal of animal breeding and genetics (1986) Vol. 132; no. 2; pp. 89 - 99
• Main Authors: Woolliams, J.A., Berg, P., Dagnachew, B.S., Meuwissen, T.H.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2015
• Subjects: Animal Husbandry; Animal reproduction; Animals; breeding program; Gene Pool; genetic contribution; genetic gain; Genetics; Genetics, Population; Genome; genomic selection; Inbreeding; Models, Genetic; optimal contributions; Selection, Genetic; optimal contributions; genomic selection; genetic gain; inbreeding; genetic contribution; breeding program
• ISSN: 0931-2668; 1439-0388
• DOI: 10.1111/jbg.12148

Summary Genetic contributions were first formalized in 1958 by James and McBride (Journal of Genetics, 56, 55–62) and have since been shown to provide a unifying framework for theories of gain and inbreeding. As such they have underpinned the development of methods that provide the most effective combination of maximizing gain whilst managing inbreeding and loss of genetic variation. It is shown how this optimum contribution technology can be developed from theory and adapted to provide practical selection protocols for a wide variety of situations including overlapping generations and multistage selection. The natural development of the theory to incorporate genomic selection and genomic control of inbreeding is also shown.