Dear Colleagues,

Over the past few decades, there has been a rapid development of high-throughput genome analysis methods, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) and genotyping microarrays. These methods allow for genome- or population-scale screening of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), insertions or deletions (INDELs), and copy number variations (CNVs) as well as genome-scale gene expression analysis. Methods based on NGS can also be used for various de novo sequencing applications, including sequencing of unknown genomes or transcriptomes, and the discovery of unknown sequence variants and new splice sites that can be utilized, e.g., for more accurate gene expression analysis. All of these applications are particularly useful in animal genomics to explore animal genome functionality and diversity under difficult conditions of constant artificial selection, which strongly reduces genetic variation. Animal genomics receives much less attention than aspects of the human genome but seems to be more challenging as more dynamic changes in the population structure and living conditions are expected for breeding animals. The most interesting topics in animal genomics appear to be the ones revealing the structure of the genome (particularly in species without a known genome), analyzing a population’s genetic structure, mapping quantitative trait loci, and identifying disease-related variants and genome responses to inbreeding and artificial selection. Additionally, the use of animal models in understanding human diseases should not be forgotten, nor should all other functional studies that aim to elucidate genotype expression at the mRNA, protein, and general phenotype level.

The aim of this Special Issue is to present original research articles and reviews utilizing/concerned with various high-throughput techniques in regard to animal genomics and genetics, particularly research focused on population genetics, genome/transcriptome assembly, quantitative trait loci mapping, disease variant detection, and all aspects of genome functional annotation.

Dr. Tomasz Szmatola
Dr. Artur Gurgul
Dr. Ewa Ocłoń
Dr. Pawlina Klaudia
Guest Editors

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• NGS
• microarray
• high-throughput techniques
• selection
• transcriptome
• genome