RESEARCH - Research Summary

Animal Production Theme

Research Summary

This project investigates the genetic control of traits related to aquacultural production value, that is weight, disease, resistance, fat content, and maturation, in the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). This is a species that constitutes over half the value of Quebec aquaculture. The project includes three research components: 1) a classic quantitative genetic approach to estimate the heritability for growth-related traits and maturation to estimate genetic correlations and predict changes due to selection. This will also include evaluating differences in genetic effects, if any, between saline and freshwater rearing conditions, and normal and intervals of normal and reduced feeding regimes; 2) the genetic and molecular basis for disease resistance and maturation in brook charr; and 3) creation of the brook trout genetic map to allow determining the position of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for other genes affecting traits of all types (growth, physiology, maturation, disease resistance, etc.) and evaluating the nature of their effects. The research will evaluate ontogenetic changes in the activity of specific genes and relate these to the originating maternal or paternal genome.

Network Investigators

Louis Bernatchez, Dépt de Biologie, Université Laval,Sainte-Foy, QC
Céline Audet, Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski (ISMER), UQAR, Rimouski, QC
Pierre Belhumeur, Dépt de microbiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC
Pierre Blier, Dépt de biologie, chimie sciences de la santé, UQAR, Rimouski, QC
Daniel Cyr, INRS-Santé humaine-Inst., Armand Frappier Centre de recherché, Pointe-Claire, QC