DNA  
Bioinfomatics to Implement Geneomic Selection
 
 

       
Go Here to begin using the BIGS Project software   This research and development project will develop analytical software for Bayesian analysis of genomic information and deliver it within an integrated bioinformatics infrastructure that will enable genomic evaluation using high-throughput SNP genotyping technology in livestock. We will implement these methodologies across a range of economic traits in beef cattle, first using existing genomic and phenotypic records from the U.S. Meat Animal Resarch Center and ultimately enabling researchers to submit data sets for analysis via a web interface. Collectively, we will deliver immediate and on-going opportunities in beef cattle for livestock managers, public researchers and industry geneticists to exploit genomic evaluation. We will enhance existing methods for predicting missing genotypes to applications involving haplotypes and web-enable this software. We will extend theory-based single-trait Bayesian methods for additive effects to practical circumstances that can estimate allelic or haplotypic effects in the context of multiple traits, maternally influenced traits, and categorically expressed traits, to capitalize on both additive and non-additive effects. All these analytical tools will be made available via web interface. Our activities will be motivated and focused on genomic evaluation of beef cattle. Implementation of this research will fully support goals of the 2005-2010 USDA Strategic Plan, by enhancing international competitiveness of the U.S beef cattle and other economically-relevant agricultural industries through practical access to the latest advances in molecular genetic technology.  

PD: Garrick, Dorian J., Iowa State University;
CO-PD: Dekkers, Jack C.M., Iowa State University
CO-PD: Fernando, Rohan L., Iowa State University;
CO-PD: Nettleton, Dan, Iowa State University;
PD: Golden, Bruce L., Cal Poly San Luis Obispo;
PD: Snelling, Warren M., U.S. Meat Animal Res. Ctr., ARS-USDA;
CO-PD: Thallman, R. Mar, U.S. Meat Animal Res. Ctr., ARS-USDA;
CO-PD: Kuehn, Larry A., U.S. Meat Animal Res. Ctr., ARS-USDA