Estimation of quantitative genetic parameters

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences Vol. 275; no. 1635; pp. 679 - 686
• Main Author: Thompson, Robin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London The Royal Society 22.03.2008
• Subjects: Animal breeding; Animal genetics; Animal models; Animals; Cattle; Estimation methods; Evolutionary genetics; Female; Genetic Parameters; Genetic Variation; Genetics, Population - methods; Heritability; Male; Maximum likelihood estimation; Models, Genetic; Phenotypic traits; Quantitative genetics; Residual Maximum Likelihood; Review; Selection; Selection, Genetic; Statistical variance; Variance Components
• ISSN: 0962-8452; 1471-2954
• DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2007.1417

This paper gives a short review of the development of genetic parameter estimation over the last 40 years. The need to analyse genetic processes in both animal selection experiments and animal breeding improvement programmes motivated the majority of this work. The usage of animal model in conjunction with residual maximum likelihood (REML) techniques for mixed models has revolutionized the methods. These methods to estimate quantitative genetic parameters have recently been advocated for use in evolutionary studies of natural populations. Therefore, it is perhaps timely to discuss the development of REML methods and their application to the analysis of artificial selection experiments and breeding programmes in animals. This should give extra insight into the methods and hopefully lead to synergy between both the areas.