Disease resistance in Atlantic cod; constructing a genetic map, QTL mapping and implementing QTLs in a genetic improvement programme

Summary This project aims at identifying areas of the genome responsible for disease resistance traits in Atlantic cod in order of implementing such traits into a selective breeding programme. A combination of molecular genetics, phenotypic records and bi oinformatics is crucial to identify areas in the genome of importance for disease resistance. Necessary tools like genetic map and challenge tests will be developed. The genetic map will be based on microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP s) identified and tested in this project. 50 full-sib families within 25 half-sib families from three populations of cod have been produced and will be tested in a disease challenge test against vibriosis. QTL studies to identify genomic regions for resis tance against the disease will be performed by genome scan of some of the families. These QTLs together with phenotypic data will form the basis for a marker-assisted selection (MAS) to increase disease resistance in cod. MAS is expected to increase selec tion response by affecting selection intensity and accuracy of the selection.