长期饮用牛奶对2代繁殖雌性大鼠生殖发育的影响

目的：通过2代繁殖实验观察长期不间断饮用牛奶对雌性大鼠生殖功能的影响。方法：4w龄SD（Sprague Dawley）大鼠雌雄各20只,随机分为牛奶组及对照组（饲料能量、蛋白质含量大致相同）,每组雌雄各半,10w后合笼,产下F1代后处死雄性大鼠,分别记录两代雌性大鼠的体重、器官脏器重量、动情周期、血清激素水平、各子代活产数、阴道开口时间、雌性35d肛门生殖器间距,探讨长期饮用牛奶对雌性大鼠生殖功能的影响。结果：亲代牛奶组雌鼠血液中E2（雌二醇）显著高于对照组（P<0.05）,F1代牛奶组雌鼠血液中PRL（催乳素）较对照组显著升高（P<0.05）;F1代第二批子鼠F2b活产数牛奶组显著低于对照组（P<0.05）;其他各项指标在两代的组间差异均无统计学意义。结论：就所观察指标而言,未发现长期饮用牛奶对雌性大鼠生长发育及生殖功能有明显影响,体内激素水平和子代活产数的作用有待进一步确认。     

室内饲养的小菜蛾种群近交衰退分析

【目的】分析近交繁殖对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella种群的影响,为室内繁殖小菜蛾种群提供依据。【方法】在室内条件下,连续饲养6代小菜蛾种群,比较近交种群和杂交种群在交配行为、繁殖能力、蛹重、成虫寿命及形态等方面的差异。【结果】近交繁殖各代蛹重达极显著差异,尤其第3代后,蛹重显著下降;近交各代的雌雄成虫在交配次数和交配持续时间上显著减小,尤其是第4代后,下降幅度极其明显,F6代雌(雄)成虫的交配次数和交配持续时间分别是F0代的12.9%(13.8%)和8.3%(8.9%),表明自F4代后,近交小菜蛾种群已呈现出明显的衰退现象。同样,F4代后近交种群的产卵前期、产卵期、产卵量、卵孵化率、成虫寿命等均极显著下降,但世代历期显著延长。同时,近交对雌雄成虫体长有显著影响,F6代雌雄成虫体长是F0代的60%左右。【结论】自近交繁殖3代始,会导致小菜蛾种群交配行为、繁殖及形态的变化,尤其是近交繁殖4代以后变化更为明显,使种群出现明显的衰退现象。因此,在小菜蛾室内繁殖时,隔一段时间(至多3代)采集远源虫源,避免种群衰退。     

凝血因子IX基因剔除小鼠的培育历史与建系方法

目的　培育凝血因子IX基因剔除小鼠近交系。方法　采用全同胞兄妹对交配 ,每代选用第一胎小鼠留种 ,记录繁殖性能 ;第 8代开始筛选纯合子。结果　凝血因子IX基因剔除小鼠已近交培育到第 12代 ,交配年龄 70 - 90d ,平均每窝产仔数 5只以上 ,离乳数 3只以上。结论　纯合子FIX剔除基因小鼠在子代鼠中能稳定遗传     

近交系HFJ大鼠的培育及其部分表型观察

目的培育高繁殖力近交系HFJ大鼠并观察其部分表型特征。方法以一对Wistar大鼠为基代,通过全同胞近亲交配方式,采用选优法培育高繁殖力近交系HFJ大鼠。采用生化标记法、皮肤移植实验进行遗传质量检测;观察比较其部分表型特征。结果HFJ种群符合近交系标准;其窝产仔数、离乳率、胎次间隔显著高于Wistar大鼠;HFJ大鼠12周龄后生长缓慢,体重低于同龄Wistar大鼠;HFJ大鼠部分血液常规指标及血液生化指标与Wistar大鼠有显著差异。结论HFJ大鼠繁殖力强,是具有独特生物学特性的近交系大鼠。     

微卫星DNA监控大鼠近交系的培育

采用微卫星DNA技术来监控大鼠仔代基因状况,选择性地进行交配繁殖,使基因快速纯合,缩短培育新的近交系动物周期。利用PCR扩增30个微卫星DNA位点对封闭群SD和Wistar大鼠交配繁殖的仔代鼠进行微卫星DNA多态性分析,仔代中与母代SD大鼠相似系数高的与中的进行定向交配繁殖。F2代大鼠均为杂合多态的位点,没有纯合位点;到F9代时基因纯合位点达27个,纯合基因位点率为90%。每代相似系数具有不断上升的趋势,上升率为6-20%。采用皮肤移植方法验证了F9代大鼠间无排斥。建立了一种新的快速培育近交系动物的方法。     

赤拟谷盗和杂拟谷盗的生殖隔离研究

赤拟谷盗和杂拟谷盗是两个同域发生的近缘储粮害虫。为明确它们的生殖隔离程度和机制,本研究比较分析了赤拟谷盗和杂拟谷盗雄虫对同种和异种雌虫的交配选择;赤拟谷盗与杂拟谷盗交配后,测定了精子在异种雌体内的存活情况;将赤拟谷盗和杂拟谷盗进行正反杂交,研究其F1代、F2代和回交代杂种是否产生及其雌雄比。结果显示,赤拟谷盗和杂拟谷盗雄虫对同种雌虫的爬跨率和交配率高于其对异种雌虫的爬跨率和交配率,表明赤拟谷盗和杂拟谷盗种间性隔离不完全;赤拟谷盗和杂拟谷盗交配后精子在异种雌体内是存活的,杂交所产的F1代卵为受精卵,说明交配后完成了精子传送和受精过程,表明种间机械隔离和配子隔离不完全;赤拟谷盗和杂拟谷盗的杂种F1代自交和回交产生了F2代和回交代,表明种间不存在杂种不育;一些杂交组合产生的F2代和回交代数量少且存在雌雄性比偏离,表明种间存在部分杂种不活和杂种衰败。本研究明确了赤拟谷盗和杂拟谷盗的生殖隔离机制,这对于揭示它们的物种进化关系有着重要意义。     

甘薯天蛾的交配行为及其影响因素

了解甘薯天蛾的交配行为习性是人工大量繁殖甘薯天蛾的关键之一。在室内条件下,采用行为生态学的研究方法,系统观察了甘薯天蛾的交配行为习性,对不同雌雄性比、空间环境和光照周期下甘薯天蛾的交配行为规律和交配率进行了研究。结果表明：甘薯天蛾在羽化后第2天开始交配,在第2天交配率最高,达到53.9%,随后交配率逐步降低;雌蛾只交配1次。在一天中,成虫交配时间发生在22:00—5:00,高峰期在22:00—24:00和3:00—5:00。雌雄性比、光照周期和空间环境对甘薯天蛾的交配成功率具有明显的影响,在全黑暗和全光照条件下不会发生交配行为,表明其交配行为发生需要一定光照和暗期的刺激;当雌雄性比为1∶1时交配率最高,为54.7%,在其他性比条件下甘薯天蛾的交配率明显降低;在空间规格为1.20 m×0.60 m×0.35 m和2.00 m×2.00 m×2.00 m时能够顺利交配,其交配成功率>62.0%。在人工繁殖甘薯天蛾的生产过程中,建议单对放养,采取适当的交配空间和应用自然光照周期营造条件将取得较好的交配产卵效果。     

通过体外受精技术缩短绒山羊育种周期的研究

本研究以羔羊卵巢母细胞为材料,把体外受精技术应用到绒山羊育种工作中,观察了羔羊体外受精卵的体外发育及移植产羔的效果,以便探讨通过体外受精技术缩短绒山羊育种周期的技术途径。对406 枚羔羊体外受精卵用M199 hcG、M199 LH 和M199 hcG EGF三种培养基进行体外发育培养。结果是,2～4 细胞期胚的发育率平均分别为40-0 % 、43-6 % 和49-6 % ;桑椹胚和囊胚的发育率平均分别为17-5 % 、15-8 % 和18-8 % 。将49 枚F1 代羔羊2～8 细胞期胚移植给31 只受体母羊,结果有11 只妊娠(35-5 % ) 并产羔12 只(F2 代) ;将24 枚F2 代羔羊2～4 细胞期胚移植给15 只受体母羊,结果有2 只妊娠(13-3 % ) 并产F3 代羔羊2 只。     

应用CRISPR/Cas9技术制备Ace2基因敲除小鼠模型及基因型的鉴定

本研究旨在应用CRISPR/Cas9技术高效构建Ace2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2)基因敲除小鼠模型,并繁殖、鉴定及验证Ace2基因敲除小鼠。通过构建靶向敲除Ace2基因的载体,体外将Cas9 mRNA和向导RNA (guide RNA, gRNA)显微注射到小鼠受精卵中,通过PCR和TA克隆测序对小鼠Ace2基因的第3至18号外显子删除情况进行检测和鉴定,繁育Ace2基因敲除小鼠并利用qRT-PCR和Western blot方法验证获得的Ace2~(-/Y)小鼠主要脏器中Ace2 mRNA和蛋白表达情况。结果显示,顺利构建表达gRNA载体并体外转录,成功将有活性的gRNA和Cas9 mRNA直接注射入受精卵,获得6只阳性F0代初建鼠,PCR和基因测序鉴定表明成功删除了小鼠Ace2基因的第3至18号外显子;F0代鼠与野生型鼠回交,得到3只阳性F1代鼠,再与野生型鼠相交配得到的后代为F2代,在F2代中选择Ace2~(-/+)雌性杂合子鼠与野生型鼠交配,获得F3代Ace2~(-/Y)雄性纯合子小鼠。qRTPCR和Western blot结果表明,F3代Ace2~(-/Y)小鼠肾脏和肺中未检测到Ace2 mRNA和蛋白表达。本方法通过CRISPR/Cas9技术成功制备了Ace2基因敲除小鼠模型,为进一步研究Ace2基因功能奠定了基础。     

携带HLA-B2704基因转基因小鼠技术的建立

应用显微注射法制备携带HLA B2 70 4基因的转基因小鼠 .对 2 86只昆明小鼠激素注射进行超排卵 ,采集受精卵 ,将含HLA B2 70 4基因的基因组DNA片段 (简称HLA B2 70 4DNA)显微注射到受精卵原核内 ,把注射存活的两细胞期受精卵移入假孕鼠的输卵管内使其发育产生后代 .用PCR方法进行F0代仔鼠及F1代仔鼠的转基因整合的检测 .利用RT PCR检测阳性鼠中的HLA B2 70 4转基因的表达 .采集了 84 11个卵 ,可注射卵 6 6 0 9个 ,其中注射存活的两细胞期受精卵 4 2 77个 ,卵的注射存活率为 6 4 7%.将卵移入 15 3只假孕鼠 ,其中 2 6只怀孕产仔 ,存活 10 1只 .在 10只F0代仔鼠基因组中有HLA B2 70 4基因整合 ,整合率为 9 9%.转基因阳性鼠F0代之间以及与正常鼠之间进行交配 ,产生的F1代仔鼠 78只 ,其中 15只为阳性 .阳性鼠的皮肤、结肠、睾丸和脾脏组织中均有HLA B2 70 4转基因mRNA的表达 .在HLA B2 70 4转基因阳性小鼠中 ,6只小鼠皮肤出现脱毛 ,1只小鼠的足部及足趾明显红肿 ,2只在脱毛同时明显畏光 ,1只出现腹泻 .结果表明 ,成功地建立了HLA B2 70 4的转基因小鼠技术 ,该小鼠类似强直性脊柱炎的小鼠模型 .     

Effect of rate of inbreeding on inbreeding depression in Drosophila melanogaster

Summary This experiment was designed to study the relationship between rate of inbreeding and observed inbreeding depression of larval viability, adult fecundity and cold shock mortality in Drosophila melanogaster. Rates of inbreeding used were full-sib mating and closed lines of N=4 and N=20. Eight generations of mating in the N=20 lines, three generations in the N=4 lines and one generation of full-sib mating were synchronised to simultaneously produce individuals with an expected level of inbreeding coefficient (F) of approximately 0.25. Inbreeding depression for the three traits was significant at F=0.25. N=20 lines showed significantly less inbreeding depression than full-sib mated lines for larval viability at approximately the same level of F. A similar trend was observed for fecundity. No effect of rate of inbreeding depression was found for cold shock mortality, but this trait was measured with less precision than the other two. Natural selection acting on loci influencing larval viability and fecundity during the process of inbreeding could explain these results. Selection is expected to be more effective with slow rates of inbreeding because there are more generations and greater opportunity for selection to act before F=0.25 is reached. Selection intensities seem to have been different in the three traits measured. Selection was most intense for larval viability, less intense for fecundity and, perhaps, negligible at loci influencing cold shock mortality.     

抗生素处理对感染Wolbachia的丽蚜小蜂生殖的影响

Wolbachia是一类广泛存在于节肢动物体内, 可以对寄主的生殖力及生殖行为产生影响的共生菌。用抗生素可以有效除去寄主体内的Wolbachia。本实验通过喂食浓度分别为1, 5和10 mg盐酸四环素/mL蔗糖水, 结合PCR检测丽蚜小蜂Encarsia formosa体内Wolbachia的去除效果; 解剖观察丽蚜小蜂F0代及F1, F2和F3代怀卵量和卵巢管数量, 评价Wolbachia对丽蚜小蜂生殖的影响。结果显示： 抗生素处理去除Wolbachia后F0代蜂的卵巢管数量与未处理蜂之间无显著差异（P=0.12）, 但F1, F2和F3代蜂的卵巢管均为6条, 显著少于F0代蜂的卵巢管数量（P<0.001）。抗生素处理去除Wolbachia后的F0代蜂怀卵量与未处理蜂相比显著下降, 但显著高于经抗生素处理去除Wolbachia后的F1, F2和F3代蜂怀卵量（P<0.001）, 后代（F1, F2, F3）蜂之间怀卵量无显著差异（P=0.59）。去除Wolbachia后, 丽蚜小蜂可以产生雄性后代, 但未见交配行为, 且雌蜂可不经交配而产生雌性后代。结果说明, Wolbachia不仅直接影响丽蚜小蜂的怀卵量, 而且还可以通过影响丽蚜小蜂卵巢管的发育影响丽蚜小蜂的怀卵量; 然而, 去除Wolbachia不改变雌蜂的孤雌生殖方式。     

Two-generation reproduction study of di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate in Crl:CD rats

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate the potential adverse effects of di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate (DEHT) on reproductive capability from exposure of F(0) and F(1) parental animals. METHODS: Four groups of male and female Crl:CD (SD)IGS BR rats (30/gender/group) were exposed to 0, 0.3%, 0.6%, and 1.0% DEHT in the feed for at least 70 consecutive days before mating for the F(0) and F(1) generations. Exposure for the F(0) and F(1) males continued throughout the mating period until euthanasia. Exposure for the F(0) and F(1) females continued throughout mating, gestation, and lactation. The F(1) and F(2) pups were weaned on postnatal day (PND) 21. Assessments included gonadal function, estrous cyclicity, mating behavior, conception rate, gestation, parturition, lactation, and weaning in the F(0) and F(1) generations, and F(1) generation offspring growth and development. RESULTS: DEHT exposure did not affect clinical observations. However, lethality was observed in F(0) and F(1) dams consuming the 1.0% diet during the post-weaning period. No treatment-related mortality occurred in any of the male groups exposed to DEHT or in the female groups exposed to 0.3% or 0.6% DEHT. Male rats consuming the 1.0% diet in both parental generations gained weight more slowly than the controls. There were no indications of adverse effects on reproductive performance in either the F(0) or F(1) generation. Male and female mating and fertility indices, pre-coital intervals, spermatogenic endpoints, reproductive organ weights, lengths of estrous cycle and gestation, live litter size, developmental landmarks, and postnatal survival were similar in all exposure groups. Additionally, ovarian follicle counts for the F(1) females in the high-exposure group were similar to the control values. No adverse exposure-related macroscopic pathology was noted at any exposure level in the F(0) and F(1) generations. CONCLUSIONS: Increases in liver weights were found in the male and female animals exposed to 0.6% or 1.0% DEHT in the diet. Because there were no accompanying histopathologic changes, this effect was not considered adverse. Significant decreases in feed consumption in the female animals from the groups consuming 1.0% DEHT in the diet during lactation accompanied reduced postnatal pup body weights and rate of weight gain. Reductions in pup body weights later in lactation may also have been due to direct consumption of the treated feed by the pups or taste aversion to the same. Reduced relative spleen weight was found in male weanling pups from the 1.0% group in both generations and reduced relative spleen and thymus weights were found in female pups from the 1.0% group in the F(2) generation at necropsy on PND 21. Therefore, for parental and pup systemic toxicity, 0.3% DEHT in the diet (182 mg/kg/day) was considered no-observed-effect level (NOEL). The 1.0% DEHT (614 mg/kg/day) in the diet exposure concentration was considered a NOEL for F(0) and F(1) reproductive toxicity endpoints.     

Effects of inbreeding on economic traits of channel catfish

Summary Inbred channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were produced from two generations of full-sib matings to study the effect of inbreeding on reproduction, growth and survival. A randomly mated control line was propagated from the same base population to be used for the evaluation of the inbred fish. First generation inbred (I1) and control (C1) lines comprised five full-sib families each. Second generation inbred (I2) and control (C2) lines were produced by mating each male catfish from the I1 or C1 line to two females in sequence, one from the I1 and one from the C1 line. The design also produced two reciprocal outcross lines to be compared to their contemporary inbred and control lines. The coefficient of inbreeding for the inbred line increased from 0.25 in generation 1 to 0.375 in generation 2. The inbreeding coefficient was zero for all other lines. The resulting fish were performance tested in two locations, Tifton, Georgia and Auburn, Alabama and no genotype-environment interactions occurred. Results indicated that one generation of inbreeding increased number of days required for eggs to hatch by 21%, but did not significantly influence spawn weight or hatchability score. However, inbred females produced more eggs/kg body weight than control females. Two generations of full-sib mating in Georgia did not depress weight when expressed as a deviation to random controls but was depressed 13–16% when expressed as a deviation to half-sib out-crosses. Second generation inbreds produced in Alabama exhibited a 19% depression for growth rate when compared to either random or half-sib outcross controls. Survival rates at various age intervals was not decreased by inbreeding. The amount of inbreeding depression varied among families and between sexes.This study was supported by State and Hatch Funds allocated to the Georgia and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Stations     

Theory of inbreeding and covariances between relatives under full-sib mating in diploids.

A generation matrix theory of full-sib mating is developed in which 13 mating "classes" are distinguished according to identity of genes in individuals mated and identity of genotypes as belonging to homozygous, parental, or offspring sets. The 13 times 13 matrix reveals some properties of the full-sib mating system not shown by previous work. The eigenvalues and a set of eigenvectors for the generation matrix, and the general solution for the frequencies of mating classes among descendants of an original mating of genotypes ab times cd, are given. The genotypic array of descendants in an arbitrary generation is also given. A new formula is derived for the coefficient of inbreeding in generation n + m in terms of coefficients of inbreeding in earlier generations. An algorithm is presented for calculating the probability of a given situation of identity of alleles carried by two individuals given only the indices of their own respective generations and the generation of their most recent common ancestor. The application of such probabilities to obtaining covariances between relatives in a full-sib mating system, under the assumptions of independence and non-interaction among loci, is illustrated. All results are shown to agree with previous work in special cases. All possible full sib, generation n - 1 parent-generation n + m offspring, and generation n uncle-generation n + m nephew covariances for 1 less than n + m less than or equal to 8 are obtained using the given algorithm.     

The Mechanism of Environmental Endocrine Disruptors (DEHP) Induces Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Cryptorchidism

Discussion on the role of DEHP in the critical period of gonadal development in pregnant rats (F0), studied the evolution of F1-F4 generation of inter-generational inheritance of cryptorchidism and the alteration of DNA methylation levels in testis. Pregnant SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: normal control group and DEHP experimental group. From pregnancy 7d to 19d, experimental group was sustained to gavage DEHP 750mg/kg bw/day, observed the incidence of cryptorchidism in offspring and examined the pregnancy rate of female rats through mating experiments. Continuous recording the rat’s weight and AGD value, after maturation (PND80) recording testis and epididymis’ size and weight, detected the sperm number and quality. Subsequently, we examined the evolution morphological changes of testicular tissue for 4 generation rats by HE staining and Western Blot. Completed the MeDIP-sequencing analysis of 6 samples (F1 generation, F4 generation and Control). DEHP successfully induced cryptorchidism occurrence in offspring during pregnancy. The incidence of cryptorchidism in F1 was 30%, in F2 was 12.5%, and there was no cryptorchidism coming up in F3 and F4. Mating experiment shows conception rate 50% in F1, F2 generation was 75%, the F3 and F4 generation were 100%. HE staining showed that the seminiferous epithelium of F1 generation was atrophy and with a few spermatogenic cell, F2 generation had improved, F3 and F4 generation were tend to be normal. The DNA methyltransferase expression was up-regulated with the increase of generations by Real Time-PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western Blot. MeDIP-seq Data Analysis Results show many differentially methylated DNA sequences between F1 and F4. DEHP damage male reproductive function in rats, affect expression of DNA methyltransferase enzyme, which in turn leads to genomic imprinting methylation pattern changes and passed on to the next generation, so that the offspring of male reproductive system critical role in the development of imprinted genes imbalances, and eventually lead to producing offspring cryptorchidism. This may be an important mechanism of reproductive system damage.     

Isozyme polymorphisms maintained by lethal loci in inbred strains of Aedes triseriatus

We analyzed the progeny of brother-sister matings of two inbred strains of the treehole mosquito, Aedes triseriatus, at several isozyme loci to determine which factors were maintaining heterozygosity at these loci after prolonged inbreeding. The triseriatus Kramer (TK) lines were polymorphic for the Odh and Hbd loci after 12 generations of full-sib mating, and the triseriatus Vero Beach (TV) lines were polymorphic for the Odh, Hk-4, Pgm, and Hbd loci after 14 generations of full-sib mating. Genetic analysis of 22 TK F13 matings and nine TV F15 matings showed that heterozygosity was enforced by lethal loci to which all the polymorphic isozyme loci were linked. The lethal loci formed a balanced lethal system. We determined the relative positions and map distances of lethals and enzyme loci.     

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis in a Meishan x Göttingen cross population

In order to locate the genetic regions in the swine genome that are responsible for economically important traits, a resource population has been constructed by mating two female Meishan pigs with a male Göttingen miniature pig. In subsequent generations, 265 F2 offspring were produced from two F1 males and 19 F1 females. The F2 offspring were scored for eight traits including growth rate, teat number, vertebra number and backfat thickness, and genotyped for 318 genetic markers spanning the swine genome. Least‐square analysis revealed quantitative trait loci (QTL) effects for vertebra number on chromosomes 1 and 2; for teat number on chromosomes 1 and 7; for birth weight on chromosome 1; for average daily gain between 4 and 13 weeks of age on chromosomes 9 and 10; for backfat thickness on chromosome 7; and for backskin thickness on chromosome 3.     

Delayed mating reduces fecundity of blackheaded fireworm, Rhopobota naevana, on cranberry

This study examines the effects of delayed mating on two successive generations of blackheaded fireworm, Rhopobota naevana Hübner (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a pest of cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton (Ericaceae). The first (spring) generation produces eggs that hatch soon after oviposition, whereas the second (summer) generation produces mostly diapause eggs. Unmated female and male moths were placed together on the first, second, fourth, sixth, or eighth day after emergence. In the first generation, incidence of mating was greatest in the 1-, 2-, and 4-day treatments then declined as female survival decreased. In the second generation, incidence of mating was lowest in the 1-day treatment and greatest in the 2-, 4-, and 6-day treatments. Most second generation females in the 6- and 8-day treatments survived to mate. The mean oviposition period was 2.6 days for first generation females and 4.1 days for second generation females. Fecundity of singly mated females in both generations declined as age at mating advanced, but the pattern of decline differed between generations. First generation females that were mated on the first or second day laid more eggs than those mated on the fourth, sixth, or eighth day, and the number of infertile eggs increased as age at mating advanced. Fecundity of second generation females declined more gradually and the number of infertile eggs was greatest for females mated on the first, sixth, or eighth day. A consequence of the marked decline in fecundity due to mating delays in the first generation was that mean fecundity of the entire group of first generation females was ca. 13% less than that of the group of second generation females. On cranberry farms, pheromone-mediated mating disruption can prevent or delay mating of blackheaded fireworm. If the frequency of disrupted (prevented and delayed) matings is similar in the two generations, fewer eggs will be laid in the first generation than in the second.     

Effective Size of Populations under Selection

Equations to approximate the effective size (N(e)) of populations under continued selection are obtained that include the possibility of partial full-sib mating and other systems such as assortative mating. The general equation for the case of equal number of sexes and constant number of breeding individuals (N) is N(e) = 4N/[2(1 - α(I)) + (S(k)(2) + 4Q(2)C(2)) (1 + α(I) + 2α(O))], where S(k)(2) is the variance of family size due to sampling without selection, C(2) is the variance of selective advantages among families (the squared coefficient of variation of the expected number of offspring per family), α(I) is the deviation from Hardy-Weinberg proportions, α(O) is the correlation between genes of male and female parents, and Q(2) is the term accounting for the cumulative effect of selection on an inherited trait. This is obtained as Q = 2/[2 - G(1 + r)], where G is the remaining proportion of genetic variance in selected individuals and r is the correlation of the expected selective values of male and female parents. The method is also extended to the general case of different numbers of male and female parents. The predictive value of the formulae is tested under a model of truncation selection with the infinitesimal model of gene effects, where C(2) and G are a function of the selection intensity, the heritability and the intraclass correlation of sibs. Under random mating r = α(I) = -1/(N - 1) and α(O) = 0. Under partial full-sib mating with an average proportion β of full-sib matings per generation, r & β and α(O) & α(I) & β/ (4 - 3β). The prediction equation is compared to other approximations based on the long-term contributions of ancestors to descendants. Finally, based on the approach followed, a system of mating (compensatory mating) is proposed to reduce rates of inbreeding without loss of response in selection programs in which selected individuals from the largest families are mated to those from the smallest families.