Genetic Visions Inc.®
www.geneticvisions.net | 608-662-9170 | info@geneticvisions.com
Secrets of the Bovine Genome Revealed
Genetic Visions, Inc. Advances Genomic Testing Capabilities Through New Equipment
Investment AND Accelerated Genetics Incorporates Genomic Predictions Into Sire Selection
Program.
For the past 20 years, Genetic Visions, Inc., Middleton, Wis., has been on the cutting
edge of bovine genetic marker research identifying genes influencing production
traits, gestation length, animal health and viability. Recently, Genetic Visions
invested in genomic scanning equipment from Illumina, Inc., San Diego, Calif., that
will allow them to use the "gold standard" of genomic scanning procedures
using Illumina's Bovine 50K SNP assay.
The marker data from the SNP assay can then be sent to the USDA-ARS to calculate
a genomic prediction. The prediction covers a large number of traits with accuracies
at nearly two times as reliable as traditional pedigree estimates. Official USDA
PTA’s (Predicted Transmitting Abilities) that contain genomic information will be
available in January, 2009.
Genetic Visions, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary corporation and research arm
of Accelerated Genetics. By using this new genetic tool Accelerated Genetics will
be able to look beyond traditional pedigree selection and double their accuracy
in sourcing young bulls that enter the PACE young sire testing program. Ultimately, Accelerated Genetics wants to increase its customers herd’s genetic worth.
The possibilities of future research are endless for Genetic Visions with this new
equipment investment. "The addition of the genomic scanning equipment advances
our genetic testing capabilities and is the next evolution of our research efforts,"
states Dr. Mike Cowan, General Manager, Genetic Visions and Vice President of Research, Accelerated Genetics. Genetic Visions has an extensive foundation of information
on dairy families and chromosomal regions impacting traits. They can now further
their studies, diving deeper into the secrets of the bovine genome in greater detail.
Genetic Visions is the first company in Wisconsin to own this type of equipment
and is one of very few labs within the United States capable of scanning the bovine
genome. The USDA will no longer provide the service of genomic scanning to the dairy
industry as their program transitions beyond its research objective. However, USDA-ARS will continue to upgrade the application of genotypic data to estimate genetic worth
and will be the source of official genomic predictions.
Where will genomics lead the dairy industry? No one knows for sure, yet what everyone
knows is that there is more to come. Future genomic estimates will one day take
into account both additive and non-additive genetic variance. Continued DNA studies
will help to determine how genes interact with each other, this will add to the
predictive power and will enhance genomic predictions. Genomic selection should
not startle anyone it's just a new tool to help the dairy industry breed better
cattle in a shorter time period.
Genetic Visions and Accelerated Genetics are on the cutting edge of this technology
that will help the dairy industry breed better cattle in a shorter time period.