Update on the International Goat Genome Consortium Projects

Goats specialized in dairy, meat and fiber production are adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions, and have a large economic impact. Currently, however, the development of genomic research tools in goats is less advanced than in related species as cattle and sheep.The International Goat Genome Consortium (www.goat.genome.org), aims to fill this gap by characterizing the structure and diversity of the goat genome through the collaboration of international research teams. Three projects have been performed so far and include 1) de novo goat genome reference sequence CHIR_1.0 ; 2) RH panel and whole genome high density RH maps (Du et al, 2012 & 2014) and 3) design of a 50K SNP chip (Tosser-Klopp at al, 2014). Ongoing projects include 1) an improved assembly of the goat genome, using PacBio reads; 2) the ADAPTmap project (www.goatadaptmap.org), which aims at exploring the diversity of caprine populations at a worldwide scale (33 countries, 10 working groups) by using a wide variety of approaches; 3) Resequencing project of more than 100 goats (BGI) and 4) designs of new SNP chips to accommodate the needs of very large scale genotyping projects (i.e. breed characterization at an international scale and genomic selection). Information and discussion about new projects to be developed within the Consortium will be presented