Animal genetic improvement
Director:
Prof. Noelia Ibáñez. University Professor. PhD in Agronomic Engineering
Researchers:
Prof. Agustín Blasco. University Professor. PhD in Agronomic Engineering
Prof. Mª Antonia Santacreu. University Professor. PhD in Biological Sciences
Prof. Pilar Hernández. University Professor. PhD in Biological Sciences
Prof. Francisco Marco. University Professor. PhD in Agronomic Engineering
Prof. José Vicente. University Professor. PhD in Biological Sciences
Dra. Marina Martínez. Ramón y Cajal postdoctoral hire. PhD in Agricultural Engineering
Dr. Samuel Sosa. Postdoctoral hire. PhD in Agricultural Engineering
Dra. Cristina Casto. Biotechnologist. Master in Genetic Improvement. Anim. and Biot. repr. Postdoctoral Contract
Dra. Laura Lorenzo Rebenaque. Doctor assistant. Veterinary Doctor
Researchers in training:
Agostina Zubiri. Biotechnologist. Master in Genetic Improvement. Anim. and Biot. repr. Hired Senior Technician
Iliyass Biada. Agricultural engineer. Master in Genetic Improvement. Anim. and Biot. repr. FPI
Pedro Núñez. Vet. Master in Genetic Improvement. Anim. and Biot. repr. FPI
Lamiae Azouggagh. Agricultural engineer. Hired with the Grisolía program
Technical staff:
Federico Pardo. Agricultural technical engineer
José Sauquillo. Agricultural technical engineer
Rafael Torres. Agricultural technical engineer
Ion Pérez. Agricultural engineer
Tamara Romero. PhD in Agricultural Engineering
Luis García. Medium laboratory technician
In this line, the genetic study of the characteristics of carcass and meat quality is addressed, mainly in rabbits, 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 of the meat (muscle pH, color, water retention capacity, chemical composition, fatty acid composition) are studied. , etc.). Enzymatic studies are also carried out (metabolic, antioxidant, lipolytic and proteolytic enzymes). Currently, the genome, transcriptome and metabolome of rabbits and their intestinal contents are being analyzed in animals from a divergent selection experiment for intramuscular fat content in rabbits.
Researchers: Pilar Hernández, Marina Martínez, Agustín Blasco
In this line of research, the resilience of the rabbit is studied for the litter size character. The robustness and resilience of commercial lines developed by this group is compared, one of them, the L line, originated from embryos of females that exceeded 30 births with an average productivity and two commercial lines of standard longevity (A and V). . The genetics of environmental variability in litter size is also studied, through a divergent selection experiment for this trait 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 metagenomic and metabolomic, analysis of the intestinal microbiota of these lines is performed.
Researchers: M.A. Santacreu, Noelia Ibáñez, Agustín Blasco
This line began in 1976 with the idea of developing rabbit genetic lines that were competitive in an international production framework. A structure has been created that allows Spanish rabbit farming to benefit from the developments 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. There is also a paternal line selected for growth. 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: Agustín Blasco, M.A. Santacreu, Pilar Hernández, Noelia Ibáñez, Marina Martínez
This line of research addresses the genetic improvement of traits of interest in pigs (white/Iberian) through the development of genetic/genomic selection methods and strategies. To do this, the use is evaluated not only of data from animals from “pure” lines, but also from their commercial crosses. Likewise, a fundamental point of this line of research is to study how to exploit “omic” information to achieve better genetic/phenotypic predictions.
Researchers: Noelia Ibáñez, Agustín Blasco, M.A. Santacreu, Pilar Hernández, Marina Martínez
The line began in 1989 with the objective of establishing an embryo bank of the rabbit lines selected by the Genetic Improvement Group. Currently, research work includes both the study of those biological aspects related to the response of sperm, eggs 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. effective methods applicable to different livestock species, either for the conservation of genetic resources or for their dissemination or evaluation.
Furthermore, using the rabbit as a biomedical model, the impact that biotechnological tools have on the genome, proteome and metabolome of offspring is being studied, especially the cryopreservation of embryos and its transgenerational effects.
Researchers: José Salvador Vicente Antón, Laura Lorenzo Rebenaque y Francisco Marco Jiménez