Genomic selection (GS) is considered a powerful tool for genetic improvement of complex traits controlled by many genes, each with minor effects. It offers several advantages such as
increasing the rates of genetic gain through increased accuracy of estimated breeding values significantly shorter breeding cycles, and the better utilization of available genetic resources through genome-guided mate selection.
Traditional breeding approach limits the number of variety candidates to be tested, and it is the main cause of the fact that breeding programs are time and cost intensive. Genomic selection offers a more efficient alternative by using molecular markers to predict the genetic value of individuals for specific traits without phenotyping.
In this presentation, we will provide an overview of GS and its implications for shrimp breeding. We will also discuss the current state of the field, the potential for this technology to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the P. vannamei shrimp industry despite lacking a chromosome-level whole reference genome sequence.1-2
References
1Alcivar-Warren A, et al. 2024. Penaeid shrimp genomics and epigenomics – whole reference genomes for the economically important Penaeus species. Proceedings of the Aquaculture 2025 meeting held in New Orleans, March 6-10, 2025 - abstract.
2Xiong X, Xie C, Li S, et al. 2024. PvGeneExpDB: An integrative gene expression database for in-depth understanding on the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Comp Biochem Physiol Part D Genomics Proteomics. 2024 Jun:50:101227. doi: 10.1016/j.cbd.2024.101227. Epub 2024 Mar 19.