Animal Molecular Breeding 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 119-129 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/amb 123 Additionally, combining MAS with traditional breeding methods can help balance the benefits of rapid trait improvement with the need to preserve genetic diversity. For example, integrating MAS with progeny testing and genomic selection can optimize genetic gain while minimizing the loss of genetic diversity (Degen and Müller, 2023). Furthermore, monitoring genetic diversity through regular assessments of inbreeding coefficients and effective population sizes can help identify and address potential issues before they become critical (Makanjuola et al., 2020; Raina et al., 2020). In conclusion, while MAS offers significant benefits for improving livestock productivity and resilience, careful management and strategic planning are essential to ensure that genetic diversity is maintained, thereby safeguarding the long-term health and sustainability of livestock populations. 4 Case Studies in MAS Applications 4.1 Case study on livestock productivity Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS) has been effectively utilized to enhance livestock productivity, particularly in cattle. One notable application is in improving thermotolerance traits, which are crucial for maintaining productivity under thermal stress conditions. Thermal stress can significantly reduce feed intake, milk yield, growth rate, and reproductive efficiency in cattle. Recent advances in molecular genetics have enabled the identification of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with thermotolerance traits. These SNPs, found in genes such as HSP70, HSP90, and HSF1, play key roles in cellular activities during thermal stress and protect cells against damage. By selecting cattle with favorable SNPs, breeders can develop thermotolerant cattle that maintain high productivity even under extreme temperature conditions (Figure 2) (Hariyono and Prihandini, 2022). Figure 2 Molecular mechanism for the expression of HSP70 within a cell (Adapted from Hariyono and Prihandini, 2022) Image caption: The HSP70 gene family in cattle, consisting of four genes located on different chromosomes, shares homologous relationships with human HSP70 genes, indicating conserved stress response mechanisms across species. The molecular mechanism involves the activation of heat shock factors (HSFs) under stress, leading to their dissociation from HSPs, phosphorylation, trimer formation, and nuclear translocation. HSF trimers then bind to heat shock elements (HSE) in the HSP70 gene promoter, initiating transcription. The transcribed HSP70 mRNA is translated into proteins that function in protein assembly, transport, and repair. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for enhancing thermotolerance in livestock through marker-assisted selection (MAS), ultimately boosting productivity and resilience (Adapted from Hariyono and Prihandini, 2022)
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