Revolutionize livestock breeding in the future: an animal embryo-stem cell breeding system in a dish

Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology

Ye Yuan¹  Dongbao Chen²  Zhuocheng Hou³  Lei An³  Jianhui Tian³  Jianyong Han⁴ 

[1] Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California Irvine;Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University;State Key Laboratories for Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University;

关键词: Animal breeding;    Embryos;    Genomic selection;    In vitro germ cell induction;    Pluripotent stem cells;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40104-018-0304-7

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Meat and milk production needs to increase ~ 70–80% relative to its current levels for satisfying the human needs in 2050. However, it is impossible to achieve such genetic gain by conventional animal breeding systems. Based on recent advances with regard to in vitro induction of germ cell from pluripotent stem cells, herein we propose a novel embryo-stem cell breeding system. Distinct from the conventional breeding system in farm animals that involves selecting and mating individuals, the novel breeding system completes breeding cycles from parental to offspring embryos directly by selecting and mating embryos in a dish. In comparison to the conventional dairy breeding scheme, this system can rapidly achieve 30–40 times more genetic gain by significantly shortening generation interval and enhancing selection intensity. However, several major obstacles must be overcome before we can fully use this system in livestock breeding, which include derivation and mantaince of pluripotent stem cells in domestic animals, as well as in vitro induction of primordial germ cells, and subsequent haploid gametes. Thus, we also discuss the potential efforts needed in solving the obstacles for application this novel system, and elaborate on their groundbreaking potential in livestock breeding. This novel system would provide a revolutionary animal breeding system by offering an unprecedented opportunity for meeting the fast-growing meat and milk demand of humans.

【 授权许可】

Unknown