Genomic tools are now available for most livestock species and are used routinely for marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS) in cattle. Recently, multiple-marker detection has been achieved from biopsies of preimplantation stage embryos, thus allowing embryos to be selected before transfer (Le Bourhis et al. 2009 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 21, 192 abst). This strategy provides the opportunity to estimate some traits of particular interest, the presence of genetic abnormalities, or both. The present work aimed to assess the efficiency of MAS/GS evaluation from biopsied bovine embryos by using the bovine 50K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) Illumina chip. A biopsy of 5 to 10 cells was obtained under laboratory conditions, using a microblade under a stereomicroscope, from 29 in vitro-cultured morulae and blastocysts. Biopsies were transferred individually as dry samples in tubes and sent frozen (n = 13) or at room temperature (n = 16) to the genotyping laboratory. The genomic DNA of each biopsy was amplified using a whole-genome amplification (WGA) kit according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Qiagen REPLI-g® Mini Kit, Qiagen, Valencia, CA). Following WGA, DNA concentration was determined by using PicoGreen. For subsequent genotyping, a custom CRV 50K Illumina chip was used. Call rates were calculated from 50 905 SNP. Percentage of allele drop-out (%ADO), which was estimated from the number of heterozygous markers [%ADO = (calculated hetero – observed hetero)/calculated hetero]. Parentage error was estimated from 12 embryos by using the genotypes of the parents of the embryos. Both groups of transport conditions were compared using Student’s t-test. Results are presented as mean ± SEM. A greater quantity of DNA was obtained after amplification of biopsies that were sent frozen to the laboratory when compared with those at room temperature (P < 0.05). However, the SNP call rate, %ADO, and parentage error did not differ between groups. These results indicate that genotyping from embryo biopsies following WGA can be achieved with good efficiency when using high-density marker chips. To validate the use of MAS/GS from early embryos in breeding schemes, a larger number of in vivo embryos are currently genotyped under field conditions. This will allow the reliability of this method to be assessed and the correlation between embryo and calf genetic evaluation to be quantified with the current WGA efficiency.
Table 1.Amount of DNA after WGA and genotyping results
