Acceleration of improvement in health and production of mink through genomics and machine learning

通过基因组学和机器学习加速改善水貂的健康和生产

• 批准号: 580537-2022
• 负责人: Miar, YounesY
• 金额: $ 2.17万
• 依托单位: Dalhousie University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=743386
• 关键词: Acceleration; improvement; health; production; mink

The mink industry in Canada adds more than $1 billion to the Canadian economy each year. The Canadian fur industry accounts for approximately 60,000 jobs across the country. This economy can also grow (by an estimated $60 million annually) by improving economically important traits in Canadian mink breeding programs such as feed efficiency, reproductive performance, body size and fur quality. We have recently sequenced the mink genome with high quality, and this created a considerable number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that can be used for genomic studies in mink. In this project, genomic studies will be performed using our newly developed Affymetrix Mink 70K SNP panel on 3,072 mink. This will be achieved by partnership between Dalhousie University and Canada Mink Breeders Association. In this project, the potential of genomic selection using artificial intelligence will be evaluated. At the end of this project, the most accurate genome prediction and machine learning methods will be provided for estimating the genomic breeding values of traits of interest in mink. Genomic selection (GS) for these traits would increase the rate of genetic gain resulting in more profits for the mink industry as demonstrated in other livestock industries. In addition, the genes identified in the project could provide new opportunities for marker-assisted selection (MAS) program. Therefore, the objective of this project is to assess the potential of GS and MAS in mink production systems and develop the cost-effective tools for implementation of genetic/genomic selection for development of superior, high efficient and healthy animals. This project will generate highly qualified personnel capable of developing and applying innovative genomics and bioinformatics approaches of use in agriculture industry especially in mink industry. This approach will help improve the overall performance of the Canadian mink industry, which is in difficulty now due to several economic factors such as declining fur prices and high feed costs.

加拿大的水貂产业每年为加拿大经济带来超过10亿美元的收入。加拿大的毛皮业在全国创造了大约6万个工作岗位。通过改善加拿大水貂育种项目中重要的经济性状，如饲料效率、繁殖性能、体型和毛皮质量，加拿大的经济也可以增长(估计每年增长6000万美元)。我们最近对水貂基因组进行了高质量的测序，产生了大量可用于水貂基因组研究的单核苷酸多态(SNPs)。在这个项目中，将使用我们新开发的Affymetrix Mink 70K SNP面板对3,072头水貂进行基因组研究。这将通过达尔豪西大学和加拿大水貂饲养者协会的合作实现。在这个项目中，将评估使用人工智能进行基因组选择的潜力。在本项目的最后，将提供最准确的基因组预测和机器学习方法来估计水貂感兴趣的性状的基因组育种价值。这些性状的基因组选择(GS)将提高遗传获得率，从而为水貂行业带来更多利润，就像其他畜牧业所证明的那样。此外，该项目中确定的基因可能为标记辅助选择(MAS)计划提供新的机会。因此，本项目的目标是评估GS和MAS在水貂生产系统中的潜力，并开发成本效益高的工具，用于实施遗传/基因组选择，以培育优质、高效和健康的动物。该项目将培养高素质的人才，能够开发和应用创新的基因组学和生物信息学方法，用于农业行业，特别是水貂行业。这种做法将有助于改善加拿大水貂行业的整体表现，由于毛皮价格下降和饲料成本高等几个经济因素，加拿大水貂行业目前陷入困境。