SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT FOR MORE REALISTIC SIMULATION OF SELECTIVE BREEDING PROGRAMS FOR OYSTERS

 Software  for simulating breeding programs has bec ome a valuable  tool  for optimizing the design of  selective breeding programs for plants and animals .  Breeding programs for aquaculture of marine bivalves, such as oysters, could benefit from  such technology; however,  functionality  that incorporates the unique genetic characteristics of oysters is lacking. Currently available technology has been designed to simulate the genetic characteristics found in terrestrial livestock and crops .  However, t he  relatively  high genetic diversity of oysters , along with a likely high mutation rate and genetic load,  distinguishes them from traditionally  bred  species and warrants the creation of additional functions or software for more realistic simulation of oyster populations .  In addition, oysters in breeding programs can be  diploid, triploid, or tetraploid,  making the creation and mating of polyploid  individuals  an especially valuable component of new oyster-based simulation technology.  Here we outline goals, strategies, and progress towards the creation of new software to guide the design of oyster  breeding programs and aquaculture species with similar genetic architecture. 

 triploid oysters are a popular commercial product. 

In breeding programs, oyster populations can also deviate from traditionally bred species by being polyploid, as creating and mating polyploid

 In breeding programs, oyster populations may

O yster breeding programs can also deviate from traditionally bred species by involving the creation and mating of polyploid animals . 

  making simulation of polyploid oyster populations an 

 to genetically improve triploid oysters

 often aim to genetically improve triploid oysters,

 creation and mating of polyploid oysters a valuable tool for simulation.  

We outline goals, strategies, and progress towards the creation of new software to guide breeding program design in marine bivalves . 

which vary considerably to that in  marine bivalves.    Especially high genetic diversity, along with a likely high mutation rate and genetic load, likely warrants creation of new software to realistically simulate oyster populations.

 In addition,

   We outline goals, strategies, and progress towards the creation of new software to enable more

 We outline goals, strategies, and progress towards new software to realistically simulate breeding programs in highly fecund marine species such as oysters. 

 the distinguishing genetic characteristics of oysters

 are excellent candidates to benefit from such technology considering their

 Applying simulations to oyster breeding would be valuable,

 Selective breeding for oysters would

 Considering the rising investment in oyster breeding programs and the

 A barrier from the usefulness of applying available simulation technology to marine bivalves,

 applying available simulation technology would

 in terrestrial livestock and crops.  

 Technology – simulate populations – evaluate breeding program design.  Accommodate major agricultural species, such as terrestrial livestock and crops, which have genetic characteristics that vary considerably from marine bivalves, such as oysters.  Especially high genetic diversity in oysters, along with a likely high mutation rate and genetic load, likely warrants creation of new software to realistically simulate oyster populations for breeding program simulation. 

The  genetic characteristics of oysters are distinguishing from other selectively bred and farmed animal species, such as terrestrial livestock , which  warrants 

Especially high genetic diversity in oysters , along with a  likely  high mutation rate and genetic load,  likely warrants

 may  cause genetic architecture of oyster populations to deviate considerably from similarly treated populations of x.

 Thus, realistically simulate populations for optimization of oyster breeding programs. 

 expected in population models with other species.     

 deviate from established methods in  

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