Sheep genome breakthrough could lead to better breeding
Techniques and technology in sheep production could take a major step forward after scientists announced they had completed the first sequencing of the complete sheep genome.
The international research team, backed by Meat & Livestock Australia, and led by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) involved 26 institutions and eight countries in the project which has taken eight years to complete.
CSIRO said the work could lead to “more effective sheep breeding strategies and new approaches to their management, as well as being used in further research to mitigate major sheep diseases”.
Project leader Dr Brian Dalrymple said: “We investigated the completed genome to determine which genes are present in a process called gene annotation, which resulted in an advanced understanding of the genes involved in making sheep the unique animals that they are.”
