November 9, 2007

USDA earmarks US$5 million for genome-enabled animal selection

The USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service announced its US$5 million funding for a four-year research programme that will allow animal breeders to use genetic information in predicting an animal's physical makeup.

The genome-enabled animal selection scans the animal's genetic composition and predicts what genes it will pass on to the next generation.

USDA undersecretary for Research, Education and Economics, Gale Buchanan said they seek to move the animal genome science from the laboratory to the marketplace and solve real-world problems.

USDA will fund the project under the National Research Initiative 2008.