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Genomic selection is a generic method that can be applied to all animal and plant species. But is it applied in the same way to all species? What are the main arguments that incite breeders to adopt this technology? How do the biological characteristics and the organisation of the selection programmes in different species influence the choice of breeders?

The R2D2 network supported by the INRAE SELGEN metaprogram has been interested in different methodological questions pertaining to genomic selection. The specificity of this network is to bring together scientists working on a wide range of animal and plant species: bees, dairy and beef cattle, goats, horses, sheep, fish, pigs, poultry, apricot trees, wheat, corn, popler trees, pinasters, fodder plants, peas, apple trees, rice, tomatoes, vines ...Seventy-five scientists from various horizons (INRAE BAP (Biology of Plant Improvements), GA (Animal Genetics), EcoDiv (Ecology and Biodiversity) and EcoSocio (Economy and Social Sciences) Divisions, IFREMER, CIRAD and SYSAAF, geneticists and economists participated in the network.

The comparison amongst all these species has shown that genomic selection can be developed very differently in selection programs. This cross-cutting analysis showed three main implementation logics called bricks and that can possibly be combined together.

• Brick A: Adding gentoyping to improve the precision of genetic prediction values
• Brick B: Replace the phenotyping by genotyping to shorten the selection cycles or increase selection intensity
• Brick C: Mieux choisir les parents pour réaliser de meilleurs croisements ou pour préserver la diversité génétique

For more information

• INRAE Press Release