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Animal breeding and genetics

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Director:

Prof. Noelia Ibáñez. Full Professor. Ph.D. in Agronomic Engineering

Researchers:

Prof. Agustín Blasco. Full Professor. Ph.D. in Agronomic Engineering

Prof. Mª Antonia Santacreu. Full Professor. Ph.D. in Biological Sciences

Prof. Pilar Hernández. Full Professor. Ph.D. in Biological Sciences

Prof. Francisco Marco. Full Professor. Ph.D. in Agronomic Engineering

Prof. José Vicente. Full Professor. Ph.D. in Biological Sciences

Dr. Marina Martínez. Postdoctoral Ramón y Cajal Researcher. Ph.D. in Agronomic Engineering

Dr. Samuel Sosa. Postdoctoral Researcher. Ph.D. in Agronomic Engineering

Dr. Cristina Casto. Biotechnologist. Master’s in Animal Genetic Improvement and Reproductive Biotechnology. Postdoctoral Contract

Trainee Researchers:

Agostina Zubiri. Biotechnologist. Master’s in Animal Genetic Improvement and Reproductive Biotechnology. Technical Assistant Contract

Iliyass Biada. Agronomical Engineer. Master’s in Animal Genetic Improvement and Reproductive Biotechnology. FPI Scholar

Pedro Núñez. Veterinarian. Master’s in Animal Genetic Improvement and Reproductive Biotechnology. FPI Scholar

Lamiae Azouggagh. Agronomical Engineer. Contracted under the Grisolía program

Technical Staff:

Federico Pardo. Agricultural Technical Engineer

José Sauquillo. Agricultural Technical Engineer

Rafael Torres. Agricultural Technical Engineer

Ion Pérez. Agronomic Engineer

Tamara Romero. Ph.D. in Agronomic Engineering

Luis García. Laboratory Technician

Genetics of Meat Quality

This line addresses the genetic study of carcass quality characteristics and meat mainly in rabbit, but not only because of its interest as a livestock species but also as a model for the study of these characteristics in other species. The classic characteristics of the carcass (carcass yield, meat/bone ratio, fat content, etc.) and meat (muscle pH, color, water retention capacity, chemical composition, fatty acid composition) are studied. , etc.). Enzymatic studies (metabolic, antioxidant, lipolytic and proteolytic enzymes) are also performed. At present, the genome, transcriptome and metabolome of rabbits and their intestinal content are being analyzed in animals from a divergent selection experiment for intramuscular fat content in rabbits.

Researchers: Pilar Hernández, Marina Martínez, Agustín Blasco

RESILIENCE GENETICS FOR LITTER SIZE

In this line of research, the resilience of the rabbit for the litter size character is studied. The robustness and resilience of commercial lines developed by this group are compared, one of them, the L line, originated from embryos of females that exceeded 30 births with average productivity and two commercial lines of standard longevity (A and V). . The genetics of the environmental variability of litter size is also studied, through a divergent selection experiment for this character in collaboration with the Miguel Hernández University. In these two experiments, the lines are compared for their resistance to stress and resistance to diseases using various biomarkers, and a genomic and metabolomic, as well as a metagenomic and metabolomic analysis of the intestinal microbiota of these lines is made.

Researchers: M.A. Santacreu, Noelia Ibanez, Agustin Blasco.

Development of genetic lines of interest in rabbit production

This line started in 1976 with the idea of developing rabbit genetic lines that were competitive in a international production framework. A structure has been created that allows Spanish rabbit farming to benefit from the development of these genetic lines. This has materialized in a network of selection, multiplication and artificial insemination centers, distributed throughout Spain, as well as in replicas of the selected lines in Uruguay, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Four maternal lines are currently being selected, in which the main objective is to improve litter size at weaning. A paternal line selected for growth is also available. It is intended to generate in the near future a line selected for food efficiency and another for robustness and resilience against stress and resistance to diseases.

Researchers: Agustin Blasco, M.A. Santacreu, Pilar Hernández, Noelia Ibáñez, Marina Martínez

GENETIC IMPROVEMENT IN PIGS

This line of research addresses the genetic improvement of traits of interest in pigs (white and Iberian) through the development of genetic, genomic and metagenomic selection methods and strategies. To this end, the use of data from animals of “pure” lines, but also from their commercial crosses, is evaluated. Likewise, a fundamental point of this line of research is to study how to exploit “omics” information to achieve better genetic and phenotypic predictions.

Researchers: Prof. Noelia Ibáñez, Agustín Blasco, M.A. Santacreu, Pilar Hernández, Marina Martínez

PRODUCTION AND CRYOPRESERVATION OF GAMETES AND EMBRYOS

The line started in 1989 with the aim of establishing an embryo bank of selected lines of rabbit by the Genetic Improvement Group. Currently, research work includes both the study of those biological aspects related to the response of spermatozoa, ovules and embryos to the procedures involved in cryopreservation programs (production, conservation and insemination or transfer) as well as the development of the most advanced technologies. applicable to different livestock species, either for the conservation of genetic resources or for their dissemination or evaluation.

In addition, using the rabbit as a biomedical model, the impact of biotechnological tools on the genome, proteome and metabolome of the offspring is being studied, especially embryo cryopreservation and its transgenerational effects.

Researchers: José Salvador Vicente Antón and Francisco Marco Jiménez