Application of Reproductive and Genomic Biotechnologies for Livestock Breeding and Selection: 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

The worldwide demand for animal-derived products will increase dramatically in the next 30 years due to global population growth. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of animal breeding through reproduction performance and genomic selection will be of the utmost importance to satisfy the growing food demand. In view of this, combining assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) and genetic/genomic molecular tools (GMTs) for animal selection will play a key role in improving and maximizing animal production systems' efficiency. This Topic aims to present original research and/or reviews related to ARTs and GMTs. We welcome all studies on factors affecting livestock performance with a particular focus on reproduction management, health control, longevity improvement, and welfare practices based on ART- and GMT-derived results. Furthermore, we encourage studies that contribute significantly to further advancing these fields and those based on ARTs, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in vitro/in vivo embryo production (IVP), embryo transfer (ET), controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (superovulation), gamete sex determination, artificial insemination (AI), gamete cryopreservation, nuclear transfer/cloning, stem cell technologies (SCTs), etc. Moreover, we invite contributions focused on complementary techniques for ARTs, including DNA isolation and analysis (DIA), polymerase chain reaction (PCR/rtPCR), DNA sequencing, recombinant plasmids, gene cloning, transgenesis, Southern blotting, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), genome-wide association studies (GWASs), etc., are welcome as well.

Potential subtopics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The reproductive basis of important fertility traits;
• The application of ARTs to genetic resources for increasing reproductive/productive performance traits;
• Reproduction–nutrition interactions and efficient reproductive and production traits;
• Genes implicated in reproductive and production traits;
• Sequencing research surrounding breeding and genetics;
• Reproduction–health control interactions and efficient production traits;
• Biodiversity protection programs, germplasm banking, and ex situ preservation;
• Reproduction–welfare practices and efficient production traits;
• Reproduction–environment (climate) interactions and their impact on reproductive and production traits;
• Reproduction–longevity interactions for increasing fertility and productivity traits. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Manuel García-Herreros
Prof. Dr. Pedro Manuel Aponte
Topic Editors