Genomic Selection and Evolution in Domestic Animals

The domestication of animals and plants during the early Holocene marked a pivotal transition that led to complex, multidimensional shifts in human societies. A limited number of primary domestication centers were responsible for most agriculturally important species, laying the foundation for subsequent population expansion and sustaining global food systems to this day.

Evolutionary processes and human-driven selection have profoundly influenced the physiology, behavior, and productivity of domestic animals, shaping their adaptation to diverse environments, enhancing traits desirable for agriculture and companionship, and leading to significant genetic and phenotypic divergence from their wild ancestors. Today, rapid advancements in genomic technologies have revolutionized our ability to investigate these genetic changes, offering unprecedented insights into the molecular basis of domestication and the evolutionary processes that underlie it.



The domestication and selective breeding of animals have long been central to agricultural development, yet many fundamental questions remain about the genetic mechanisms that drive these processes. Rapid advances in genomics and bioinformatics now provide powerful tools to investigate the evolutionary history, selection pressures, and complex traits associated with domestication and breed development. However, integrating these technologies into sustainable breeding strategies while preserving genetic diversity remains a key challenge. This Research Topic aims to explore the genetic basis of domestication and artificial selection, highlight innovative methods for genomic prediction and trait mapping, and examine the evolutionary and functional consequences of selection in domestic animals. By bringing together cutting-edge research across disciplines, we aim to deepen our understanding of how genetic and evolutionary processes interact under human influence and how these insights can be applied to improve livestock health, productivity, resilience, and welfare in the face of global environmental and agricultural challenges.



Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Genetic mechanisms underlying domestication and breed formation

• Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic prediction in livestock

• Identification of selection signatures and adaptive traits

• Evolution of complex traits under artificial selection

• Integration of functional genomics and epigenetics into breeding strategies

• Impacts of inbreeding, genetic drift, and bottlenecks on genetic diversity

• Advances in genomic tools (e.g., SNP chips, whole-genome sequencing, CRISPR)

• Comparative studies between wild and domesticated species

• Conservation genetics and maintenance of biodiversity in animal breeding

• Climate resilience and disease resistance as evolutionary responses to selection