Genome to Phenome: Improving animal health, production, and well-being: A new USDA blueprint for animal genome research 2018–2027

Authors: Rexroad, Caird; Vallet, Jeff; MATUKUMALLI, LAKSHMI - National Institute Of Food And Agriculture (NIFA); ERNST, CATHERINE - Michigan State University; Van Tassell, Curtis - Curt; Cheng, Hans; REECY, JAMES - Iowa State University; FULTON, JANET - Hy-Line International; TAYLOR, JERRY - University Of Missouri; Lunney, Joan; LIU, JOHN - Syracuse University; COCKETT, NOELLE - Utah State University; Smith, Timothy - Tim; VAN EENENNAAM, ALISON - University Of California, Davis; CLUTTER, ARCHIE - University Of Nebraska; TELUGU, BHANU - University Of Maryland; PURCELL, CATHERINE - Southwest Fisheries Science Center; Bickhart, Derek; Blackburn, Harvey; NEIBERGS, HOLLY - Washington State University; WELLS, KEVIN - University Of Missouri; Boggess, Mark; SONSTEGARD, TAD - Recombinetics, Inc

Submitted to: Frontiers in Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/26/2019
Publication Date: 4/30/2019
Citation: Rexroad III, C.E., Vallet, J.L., Matukumalli, L.K., Ernst, C., Van Tassell, C.P., Cheng, H.H., Reecy, J., Fulton, J., Taylor, J., Lunney, J.K., Liu, J., Cockett, N., Smith, T.P., Van Eenennaam, A., Clutter, A., Telugu, B., Purcell, C., Bickhart, D.M., Blackburn, H.D., Neibergs, H., Wells, K., Boggess, M.V., Sonstegard, T. 2019. Genome to phenome: improving animal health, production, and well-being: a new USDA blueprint for animal genome research 2018–2027. Frontiers in Genetics. 10:327. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2019.00327.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2019.00327

Interpretive Summary: The United States enjoys a strong heritage as an agricultural nation whose farmers continue to provide consumers with a consistently nutritious, safe, and abundant food supply. Because the Nation values technology and innovation, the animal genomics community is well positioned to address current and future agricultural challenges facing the planet. Over the last decade, USDA-funded scientists and their colleagues from across the globe used the 2008 Blueprint to develop an animal genomics infrastructure that facilitated novel scientific discoveries, some of which were implemented into commercial production and led to returns that far exceeded investment costs. The 2018 Blueprint will continue this trajectory based on new technologies, new insights into animal biology, and new genome-enabled strategies that improve various aspects of production. Ultimately, animal genome technologies will become part of mainstream agricultural production strategies used to improve animal health, well-being, production efficiency, and product quality in ways that meet the demands of growing global populations.

Technical Abstract: In 2008, a consortium led by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) published the “Blueprint for USDA Efforts in Agricultural Animal Genomics 2008 -2017”, which served as a guiding document for research and funding in animal genomics. In the decade that followed, many of the goals set forth in the blueprint were accomplished. However, several other goals require further research. In addition, new topics not covered in the original blueprint, which are the result of emerging technologies, require exploration. To develop a new, updated blueprint, ARS and NIFA, along with scientists in the animal genomics field, convened a workshop titled “Genome to Phenome: A USDA Blueprint for Improving Animal Production” in November 2017, and these discussions were used to develop new goals for the next decade. Like the previous blueprint, these goals are grouped into the broad categories “Science to Practice”, “Discovery Science”, and “Infrastructure”. New goals for characterizing the microbiome, enhancing the use of gene editing and other biotechnologies, and preserving genetic diversity are included in the new blueprint, along with updated goals within many genome research topics described in the previous blueprint. The updated blueprint that follows describes the vision, current state of the art, the research needed to advance the field, expected deliverables, and partnerships needed for each animal genomics research topic. Accomplishment of the goals described in the blueprint will significantly increase the ability to meet the demands for animal products by an increasing world population within the next decade.