Utilization of DNA marker-assisted selection in Korean native animals

The recent progress of DNA technologies including DNA fingerprinting (DFP) and random amplified DNA polymorphism (RAPD) analysis make it possible to identify the specific genetic traits of animals and to analyze the genetic diversity and relatedness between or within species or populations. Using those techniques, some efforts to identify and develop the specific DNA markers based on DNA polymorphism, which are related with economic traits for Korean native animals, Hanwoo (Korean native cattle), Korean native pig and Korean native chicken, have been made in Korea for recent a few years. The developed specific DNA markers successfully characterize the Korean native animals as the unique Korean genetic sources, distinctively from other imported breeds. Some of these DNA markers have been related to some important economic traits for domestic animals, for example, growth rate and marbling for Hanwoo, growth rate and back fat thickness for native pig, and growth rate, egg weight and egg productivity for native chicken. This means that those markers can be used in important marker-assisted selection (MAS) of Korean native domestic animals and further contribute to genetically improve and breed them.