Conservation & local programs

Gene banks for conserving and managing genetic diversity in the era of genomics and new reproductive technologies

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Abstract

Gene banks can serve as a backup to be used in case of extinction of breeds, support breeding programs in live populations and function as an archive for research. They have been around for over 40 years. They may continue to evolve by benefitting from recent advances in genomic and reproductive technologies. Genomics enables more accurate management of the conserved genetic diversity. Cryoconservation of embryos, ovaria, oocytes and primordial gene cells safeguards maternally inherited variation, not conserved by storing semen only. Strategies need to be developed on how to combine newer and traditional reproductive technologies. Furthermore, collections should be genotyped to better enable knowledge about rare alleles. For example, by genotyping the prion allele of goat breeds stored in the Dutch gene bank, it was discovered that a rare scrapie resistance allele was present in the Dutch Toggenburg that can serve as a source for other breeds lacking resistant genotypes. Next to searches for specific alleles, collections can be genotyped or sequenced to provide a public source on genetic diversity in livestock. This can also serve as a basis for deciding which animals to add to the gene bank. The most powerful tool to store the maximum amount of genetic diversity, given the limited size of a gene bank collection, is the optimal contribution method in particular when based on genomics. Genomics allows to focus either more on conserving rare alleles, or more on storing current allele frequencies. Sampling can start with the most vulnerable breeds and breeds containing unique diversity. However, storing large global breeds is useful, because they may lose genetic diversity as well. Genomic changes of breeds can be tracked by sampling them at regular intervals. This provides breeding organizations and companies the opportunity to go back to a specific time point in case of unwanted changes. Furthermore, changes in genetic diversity can be discovered by genotyping gene bank material. In this way, for example the influence of genomic selection on inbreeding rates and loss of genetic diversity in dairy cattle was evaluated, both in the global Holstein and in rare local breeds. To ensure that a breed can be restored from gene bank material part of the collection (sometimes called "core collection") should always remain available for this purpose. The minimum size of the core collection can be determined depending on the genetic material available (semen, embryos, PGCs), and the required purity of the restored breed, and required probability of a successful recovery. In conclusion, genebanks can be a valuable tool to solve problems in animal breeding and beyond. It is essential that developments in livestock are tracked in the gene bank and that opportunities enabled by genomics and reproductive technologies are fully utilized.

Keywords: 2026

How to Cite:

Windig, J., Oldenbroek, K., Hiemstra, S., Rattink, A. & Schoon, M., (2026) “Gene banks for conserving and managing genetic diversity in the era of genomics and new reproductive technologies”, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive 2026(1): 2285406. doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/wcgalp.23687

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