Review on current application of genomic biotechnologies to improve livestock and livestock products

Abstract

An organism's genome is the 'blueprint of life,' the complete set of instructions for making the molecules, cells and tissues that control how an animal can perform throughout its life. Every cell in the body contains the complete genome, encoded in the form of DNA. This review was conducted to give emphasis about the role or the current application of some advance genomic biotechnologies in animal breeding, disease diagnosis and prevention and control strategies. There are opportunities for using molecular genetics to identify genes that are involved in variety of traits. Revolutionary opportunities for the modification of animal performance are being created by the development of new methods (reproductive technology) for embryo manipulation and the application of molecular biology (cloning and transgenesis). Consequently, new approaches are needed to develop improved tools and strategies for prevention and control of infectious diseases in animal agriculture. Among the most effective and successful of these tools are animal vaccines using recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) technologies. In the recent years a profound change has occurred with the introduction of new genomic biotechnological assays for the diagnosis of infectious diseases of livestock and zoonotic pathogens. These new assays include various forms of PCR, genomic sequencing, DNA probes and DNA microarray technology, Nanotechnology, Restriction fragment length polymorphisms and Pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Generally animal genomics is of interest because of its importance to produce high quality food products economically and efficiently to furnish for the increasing supply demand gap all over the world.