Breeding Systems

A breeding system is basically the means by which animals mate

There are numerous systems used by both nature and man to produce offspring
In research, our main focus is on the genes involved in breeding Selective Breeding Gene Technology

Breeding Systems Selective Breeding

Used by humans for centuries, initially starting to improve food resources

The vast majority of the plants and animals we use today have been cultivated (selected)
on the basis of some phenotype e.g. faster growing, more abundant yield, better colour Commonly used in cattle, sheep, horses, dogs, cats Sires and dames chosen for selected characteristics

Breeding Systems Selective Breeding

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/variation/artificial/

Breeding Systems Selective Breeding

The rate of change (improvement) of a particular characteristic depends on three factors:

1 the heritability of the characteristic

2 the superiority (strength) of the particular character in the chosen stock 3 the environment the animal is maintained in i.e genetic potential will not be reached if the environment is unsuitable

Different breeding strategies are used in selective breeding: Random breeding

Inreeding
Line Breeding Outbreeding

Breeding Systems Selective Breeding

Random Breeding
Where an organism is equally likely to mate with any other individuals in a population Generally unplanned Puppy mills do a form of selective random breeding looking more for sellability of

puppies e.g. small white fluffies no real emphasis on selecting for robust offspring,
backyard breeders are often similar.

Breeding Systems Selective Breeding

Inbreeding
Breeding closely related animals e.g. brother/sister Used to ensure animals breed true i.e. increase the number of homozygous gene loci, resulting in more phenotypically uniform offspring

Used commonly in research to ensure uniformity in the line

Lines are considered inbred after mating brother and sister for 20 or more generations Genetic testing is use to confirm uniformity This is then called a pedigree line

Breeding Systems Selective Breeding

Effects of Inbreeding
Inbreeding depression = reduced fitness in a given population a result of breeding related individuals; results in population bottleneck Appearance of recessive mutations

Decrease in litter size/productivity

Increased susceptibility to disease Higher Mortality Therefore: important to select animals with maximum productivity and health

Breeding Systems Selective Breeding

Pedigree Dogs
Catalyst Program discussing Pedigree Dogs Exposed http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2688984.htm

Breeding Systems Selective Breeding

Outbreeding
Mating animals that are unrelated Heterosis (Hybrid Vigor) = when a hybrid is seen to be superior to its parents Over a series of generations genetic diversity is maintained, rotating material throughout

the colony.
Inbreeding kept to a minimum The success of this system is dependent on: -The diversity of the groups in the first place -The speed with which each generation is replaced i.e. the slower the better -The equal representation of females and males from each group

Breeding Systems Selective Breeding

Outbreeding Poiley System
Offspring Gene Mix

Gene Technology
With the current knowledge of genetics, we can further manipulate the genetics of the offspring GMOs = one in which the genes are altered by man -Definition = those in which the genetic material is altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating or natural recombination

-Organism is genetically modified using recombinant DNA technologies, or genetic

engineering -In GMOs, genes are either deleted, inserted or altered in some way e.g. enhanced or dampened

Gene Technology
GMO Example
Knockout Mice specific genes have been rendered non-functional knocked out in order to study their effect

Recombinant Gene Technology

Combines DNA from different sources with the genome of an organism Creates different/new phenotypes (protein products) by expression of the inserted DNA

Gene Technology
Transgenic Animal
Carries a foreign gene that has been deliberately inserted into its genome

Laboratory Breeding Aims

How to build a transgenic mouse

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/t ransgenic/

Laboratory Breeding Aims

In the research setting, animals are bred predominantly for: Producing research animals Maintaining a breeding colony Animals required for research may be: Outbreed

Inbreed

Laboratory Outbred Colonies

Much research is conducted on animals of specific breeds and health that are well adapted to a research environment E.g. many breeding colonies of rat, guinea pig, rabbit, non-human primates and native species are maintained These are monitored predominantly for good health (physical and psychological) Considered to be of the same stock but are not genetically identical Outbred colonies have increased genetic diversity and usually excellent reproductive

efficiency as a result e.g large litters with good quality offspring, high fertility

Laboratory Outbred Colonies

Hartley Guinea Pig Albino Guinea Pig Specific stock are often designated by the lab that develop them and the strain name e.g. Crl:Ha = Charles River laboratories, Hartley

New Zealand White Rabbit Originally bred for meat and fur Also popular pets

Laboratory Outbred Colonies

Rats Asmu:SD (animal services, Monash University: Sprague Dawley)

Mice Swiss Mice

Laboratory Outbred Colonies

Some breeding colonies are maintained for behavioural research, such as wildlife, monkey etc. Hence these are more natural form, although some species more uniform than their wild counterparts (due to limited genetic stock)

Laboratory Inbred Colonies

Most commonly used for rodents Animals are bred brother to sister for 20 generations The resulting animals are considered strains Can be traced back to a single ancestral pair at 20th generation 98.6% homozygous Genes essentially identical isogenic (same genes) e.g. C57BL, CBA, DBA, BALB

Mating Systems
A mating system refers to the way in which we group animals to breed.

Mating systems can vary between institutions or within the same institute depending on
the purpose of breeding Common mating systems you will encounter include: paired (monogamous), timed, trio, polygamous, harem

Mating Systems Pair Mating

Used commonly in mice and rats

Stable long-term pairs of one male and female in a single cage

Usually in a standard mouse cage, male and female left in cage together continuously Females are not removed from the cage for delivery Co-parenting Post-partum oestrus (within 24 hours of parturition) is utilised

Mating Systems Pair Mating

Advantages

Decreased time interval between litters

Maximised female production Easy management as female is not closely monitored for removal prior to parturition Disadvantages Requires more males More physically demanding for females, therefore they may require culling at an earlier time point

Mating Systems Timed Mating

Manually placing female(s) with a male for a short interval (i.e. overnight, or till mating

observed)
Also called hand mating Used commonly in rabbits, dogs and cats Advantages Provide precise estimation of time of mating Provides method for timed deliveries Less males required

Disadvantages
Time consuming Labour intensive More females

Mating Systems Trio Mating

A breeding system that employs a single male and two females in one cage

If a standard cage is used one female should be removed when obviously pregnant to
reduce overcrowding when both females give birth Alternatively, the trio can be placed in a larger breeding cage that can accommodate three adult mice and two litters

Mating Systems Trio Mating

Advantages

Requires relatively few males (compared to paired mating)

Can expand a line in a short period of time Disadvantages Can be time consuming/labour intensive if using standard caging May be physically draining (stressful) on females to continually produce litters without a rest period between litters

Mating Systems Polygamous Mating

Polygamous mating system involves using one male to more than two females, usually up

to 4-6
The females are removed as they become pregnant (visibly) Advantages Uses less males than pair and trio mating systems Relatively quick way to produce offspring Disadvantages Can be labour intensive in terms of pregnancy detection and removal of females

Mating Systems Harem Mating

Similar to polygamous mating, however the females are not removed prior to parturition

Generates the most offspring per male mouse

One male with typically 3-4 females and not exceeding 7 females Commonly used with guinea pigs, mice Advantages Requires relatively few males Can expand a given strain in a short period of time Disadvantages

Requires a system for identifying individual females

Management can be difficult i.e. tracking litters