Abstract
Molecular genetics investigates the genetic makeup of individuals at the DNA level. That includes the identification and mapping of molecular genetic markers and genetic polymorphisms. Molecular genetic markers (DNA markers) are one of the most powerful means for the genomic analysis and allow the connection of hereditary traits with genomic variation. Molecular marker technology has developed rapidly over the last decade and two shapes of specific DNA based marker, Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs), also known as microsatellites, and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) prevail applications in modern genetic analysis. Genomic simple sequence repeats (SSRs, microsatellites) have been used for a variety of purposes, including gene tagging, physical mapping, genome mapping, estimation of genetic diversity, phylogenetic and conservation genetic purposes in farm animal breeding. SSR analyses are applied successfully in parentage verification and pedigree analysis, as disease markers and to locate the mutation in genetic disorders in livestock animals. The ultimate use of SSRs markers is for mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL), marker assisted selection (MAS) in order to practice genomic selection and improve the farm animal health. Developments in ?omics? technologies, such as genomic selection, may help overcome several of the limitations of traditional breeding programmes and will be especially beneficial in breeding for lowly heritable disease traits that only manifest themselves following exposure to pathogens or environmental stressors in adulthood. The current paper provides a brief overview of the present - day application of microsatellites markers in animal breeding and make significant contribution to the overall farm animal health and resistance to disease.
Highlights
Molecular Genetics deals with the genomic makeup of individuals at the DNA level
The development of molecular markers for genetic analysis has led to great increase in our knowledge of livestock genetics and our understanding of the structure and behaviour of animal genomes
The demonstration of genetic polymorphism at the DNA sequence level has provided a large number of marker techniques with variety of applications
Summary
Molecular Genetics deals with the genomic makeup of individuals at the DNA level. It is the identification and mapping of genes, DNA markers and genetic polymorphisms ( Teneva et al.,2005,2007,2009;Teneva, 2009). Selection for genetic disease resistance provides a potential avenue for improving the health status of farm animals, increasing productivity and reducing the need for pharmaceutical intervention, in this way reducing costs and delaying the appearance of resistant pathogens The achievement of such improvement is one of the most important applications of molecular genome research. Landsteiner in the early 1900’s on human blood group variability and Erlich and Morgenroth and Todd and White on blood groups in farm animals researched into immuno-genetics and genetic variability among animals (Hines, 1999; Marle-Köster and Nel, 2003) It is, the development of molecular biology and especiallay DNA based markers during the past three decades that created exciting new means for studying livestock genetics and animal breeding. In very recent years the molecular biological approach has been revolutionized by the application of new technologies (Hayes et al, 2009)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
