Pipette and paper: Combining molecular and genealogical methods to assess a Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) breeding program

Abstract

The paper compared molecular and paper records of pedigrees in a Nile tilapia breeding program, the Abbassa line in Egypt. It established a novel pipeline of checks and balances based on molecular data to correct erroneous pedigree information. The study demonstrated many errors in the paper pedigree, showed that the degree of correct molecular reassignment is dependent on the percentage of broodstock genotyped, and that after 11 generations of selection, 34 of the 83 founder genomes accounted for 84.3% of the Abbassa strain's genetic composition. Despite this, overall inbreeding levels and genetic diversity were considered sufficient for continued genetic improvement.