Evolution of Genetic Diversity in Domestic Animals

Dear Colleagues,

Domestic animals have an important place in human society synonymous to richness, particularly in developing countries, providing food security or even heritage in regions where they are tightly linked to landscape. The domestication of animals started during the Paleolithic with dogs deriving from wolves to protect humans from wild animals. From then many other species have been domesticated and selected for multiple purposes ranging from production (e.g., milk, meat, wool, eggs, leather) to traction (e.g., workhorses) or as pets. Selection was specific to each purpose and each environment, leading to a huge level of diversity between breeds within the same species. Conservation of domestic animals and of their numerous breeds is thus a main concern in many places over the world.

Genetic diversity within breeds, plays a key role in the sustainability of animal breeding through the conservation of breeds. It acts at three time scales: i) short-term, through the expression of inbreeding depression with potential strong deleterious effects on both performance and fitness traits, ii) middle-term, through the maintenance of additive genetic variance and subsequent genetic gain toward selection goals, and iii) long-term, allowing adaptation to new, potentially harsh, environments (climate change, pathogens, free-range agriculture...). For these reasons, characterizing, monitoring, and managing genetic diversity are essential for the development of sustainable breeding and conservation of domestic animals with a particular emphasis on small breeds which are likely to first suffer from genetic depletion.

We invite original research papers that address the question of genetic diversity in domestic animal populations. This could involve the fine characterization of genetic diversity and its evolution in response to breeding conditions or the environment. We are also interested in papers helping to refine our knowledge on the management and use of genetic diversity through real data or simulation studies. Additional topics include opinion papers about the use of genetic resources not only from a genetic perspective but also from a policy perspective, with particular emphasis on stakeholders.

Dr. Gwendal Restoux
Guest Editor

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• breeds
• genetic diversity
• genetic resources
• conservation
• population genetics
• genomics
• pedigrees
• management