Laboratory of PCR diagnostics of animals will be opened in Altai GAU

The laboratory on the basis of the Biology and Technology Faculty of ASAU is equipped with equipment that will allow conducting research at the most modern level. Thanks to the laboratory, the efficiency of breeding work in animal husbandry will increase by increasing the accuracy of the assessment of the breeding value of animals.

"The work of the laboratory will focus on the introduction into the breeding process of modern methods of selecting animals with high genetic potential of productivity based on DNA testing. In particular, we will be able to identify the features of polymorphism of genes-markers of dairy productivity in cattle, which will ensure the transition to a qualitatively new level of breeding work in the farms of the Altai Territory," says Dean of the Faculty of Biology and Technology of ASAU, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Antonina Afanasyeva.

The tasks of the laboratory include the analysis of genotypes of farm animals for the presence of DNA markers associated with the productive indicators of animals; the formation of a regional database of genetic resources of farm animals of different species and breeds; the development of recommendations for the creation and genetic improvement of herds, breeds, types, lines of productive animals; the identification of hereditary defects and the selection of animals free from hereditary diseases, detection of the carrier of pathogenic recessive mutations, etc.

"Until now, the farms of the Altai Territory have had to carry out the necessary genetic studies in various laboratories outside the Altai Territory, which is quite long and, most importantly, costly. The laboratory created on the basis of the Altai State Agrarian University allows conducting the necessary research in the region, which will significantly accelerate the widespread introduction of genetic monitoring methods in breeding work in the region," explains Antonina Afanasyeva.

In addition to research tasks, the created laboratory will become a real training ground for students of the Altai State Agrarian University studying in the direction of "Animal Science". Modern equipment of the laboratory will ensure a high level of training of specialists in the profile "Zooengineering and digitalization in animal husbandry" within the framework of the special course "Marker breeding". The laboratory also plans to conduct regular refresher courses for employees of the livestock industry under the program "Biotechnological techniques for improving the productive indicators of dairy cattle productivity".

The grand opening of the laboratory will take place on February 7, on the eve of the Day of Russian Science.