Genetic diversity and population genomics

Genetic variability is the basis of all breeding approaches. Therefore understanding genetic diversity and strategies for its maintenance are of primary interest in animal breeding research. The group has made major methodological contributions to this latter objective. Based on high throughput genotyping technologies we can now study and understand the genomic architecture of populations. This allows marker-based estimation of relevant population parameters and the detection of footprints of natural and man-made selection in the genomes of farm animal populations.