This website is under construction Please come back later

This project proposes the bold step of using whole genome data to develop and optimise conservation genetic management of livestock diversity for the foreseeable future. The rationale for choosing whole genome data is to ‘future-proof’ DNA-based analysis in livestock conservation against upcoming changes in technology and analysis. Thus, in the context whole genome data availability, our global objective is to develop cost-effective optimized methodologies for preserving farm-animal biodiversity, using cattle, sheep, and goats as model species. More specifically, NEXTGEN will:

• produce whole genome data in selected populations;
• develop the necessary bioinformatic methods and tools, taking advantage of the 1000 human genomes project, and focusing on the identification of genomic regions under recent selection (adaptive versus neutral variation);
• develop the methods for optimizing breeding and bio-banking, taking into account both neutral and adaptive variations;
• develop innovative bio-banking methods based on freeze-dried nuclei;
• provide guidelines for studying disease resistance and genome/environment relationships in a spatial context;
• assess the value of wild ancestors and breeds from domestication centres as genetic resources;
• assess the performance of a surrogate system compared with whole genome sequence data for preserving biodiversity;
• ensure an efficient training and a wide dissemination of the improved methodologies.