Some prospects on the next 60 years in animal genetics

Abstract

Prospecting in a given scientific area is a challenging and interesting exercise, even if predictions are always uncertain, especially in the long term. The objective of this short paper is to propose some ideas on the future needs and developments in statistics and quantitative genetics in animal genetics. Several scenarios are proposed. One is more developed and assumes that genotypes will be entirely known. This would have some consequences on statistical models in animal genetics. More effort would be put on measuring the environment. Large dimensional spaces must be considered in statistical modelling, and this is a particularly challenging perspective. Modelling G×E (gene–environment) interactions in this context, epigenetics phenomena, etc. would be of prime interest.

Keywords:

• Animal genetics
• G×E interactions
• prospects
• quantitative genetics

Acknowledgements

Stimulating discussions with Alain Paris, Hubert de Rochambeau, Andres Legarra, Bertrand Servin, Hervé Garreau, and Eduardo Manfredi (INRA) are greatly acknowledged. Thanks to an anonymous referee for useful comments.

This paper represents the contents of a talk given at the ‘DS symposium’, organised in honour of Daniel Sorensen for his 60th birthday. Thanks to Elise Norberg and Bernt Guldbrandtsen for organising it so well, and to Daniel Sorensen for his so numerous and clear scientific contributions.