Efficiency of marker assisted selection.

摘要

Genetic markers can be used in breeding programmes in a variety of ways. This paper emphasizes marker-assisted introgression in crossbred populations, and marker-assisted selection in outbred populations. As marker typing costs reduce, the value oftheir use in a breeding programme will be dominated by returns rather than their costs. Under certain conditions, markers can replace phenotypic selection in introgression programmes, thus obviating the need for rearing individuals in order to measure their phenotype. Studies in dairy cattle populations indicate that marker-assisted selection is economically efficient under realistic assumptions regarding costs and benefits.