What is a genotype?
The genotype of an organism is the inherited instructions (recipe) it carries within its genetic code.
Genetics & Genomics
What is a DNA marker?
A DNA marker is a variation in the DNA code, mapped to a specific location in the genome. DNA markers...
How does a DNA marker relate to a gene?
A DNA marker can actually be located directly within the gene sequence that causes a change in the trait of...
Do we know the full code (i.e., sequence) of DNA for cattle and other livestock?
The full code set for an animal’s genome is comprised of about 2.7 billion connected bases. The genome of a...
How is an animal’s makeup (i.e., genotype) for a DNA marker determined?
An individual’s genotype is fixed at birth with the inheritance of one chromosomal copy from each of its parents. The...
Will an animal’s marker genotype change during its lifetime?
No, an individual’s genotype is unique and fixed not long after fertilization of an egg by a sperm, and remains...
Does a DNA marker only relate to one trait?
Many traits are genetically correlated to one another due to the fact that genes can impact multiple traits. Likewise, DNA...
What is an economically relevant trait?
A trait is an observable or measurable characteristic of an individual. An economically relevant trait is one that directly affects...
Are all economically relevant traits heritable?
Economically relevant traits vary in level of heritability, measured as the percentage of observed variation that is due to underlying...
If a trait is lowly heritable, does that mean that it cannot be improved genetically?
Traits with a low degree of heritability can still be improved genetically, though not as rapidly as more highly heritable...