High-throughput Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) in Sheep: An Update

Recent advances in next generation sequencing technology have increased the output/cost to a level that now allows for genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) in livestock and plant crops as well as aquaculture species to be established. GBS has the potential to be a cost effective, reproducible and high-throughput SNP genotyping method. Varying the number of samples and the ‘size’ of the reduced genome per lane on an Illumina HiSeq2000 allows for differing magnitudes of SNPs to be genotyped and interrogated. We have explored GBS in sheep by combining RAD (restriction site associated DNA) sequencing with a PCR specific primer approach to generate a method that can be fine tuned to return varying genome coverage. The method for reducing the complexity of the genome, as well as the sequencing and bioinformatics pipeline for GBS in sheep will be presented.