From the Editors—Animal selection: The genomics revolution

The rapid improvements in high-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping technologies, ever-denser SNP arrays accompanied by reduced costs for genotyping and for sequencing, open the possibility of using genomic information in livestock selection. The industry is thus facing the new paradigm of “genomic selection,” in which genomic information may reduce costs and accelerate genetic gain by reducing generation intervals. Genetic markers, or SNP, are highly abundant in the genome, and highthroughput molecular technologies allow the inheritance of hundreds of thousands of such markers to be traced through generations for currently less than US $200 per animal. Even if the mutations themselves do not directly affect the phenotype, they can track for the variability of causal mutations in their vicinity. By summing the effects assigned to each SNP, we can create a numeric value (genomic breeding value) that allows the genetic potential of a breeding animal to be assessed. This is an enormously valuable tool for choosing breeding animals as parents of the next generation. In addition, genomic selection may allow the identifi cation of superior individuals for traits not currently considered in animal breeding plans because of technical diffi culties. For example, the fatty acid composition of dairy and beef food products, increased disease resistance (and thus increased animal welfare), and decreased methane emissions in cattle help to address the needs of consumers and society for sustainable and cost-effective food production. The animal breeding industry is currently adapting selection procedures in each species to include this innovative tool. This is causing a worldwide restructuring of the animal breeding industry. As an example in dairy cattle, large international consortia are being formed to develop joint precompetitive research and tools. For similar reasons, in the future, genomic selection might help close the gap between countries with greater and lesser production. The scope of this issue of Animal Frontiers is to provide a worldwide overview and various perspectives on intermediate-term scenarios resulting from the application of genomic tools in different livestock species. Genomic selection has already had a huge impact in genetic selectionrelated industries. Such industries have had the same structure for at least 3 decades. Subsequent to the research conducted by animal geneticists in the 1960s and 1970s, mainly by Charles Henderson and his group, animal selection remained the same for many years. Of course, new traits were included and new species were selected in addition to dairy cattle, but the industry structure generally remained the same. During these years, genetic selection also incorporated new computer technologies and animal reproduction discoveries to improve the identifi cation of superior animals. The genomic revolution created large changes in this structure. New actors appeared on the scene. In this issue of Animal Frontiers, relevant technicians and scientists were invited to focus on the impact of the genomic revolution on the genetics industry and to forecast future developments.