Genomic Inbreeding Coefficient (GIC)
Information des Genomischen Inzuchtkoeffizienten
The genomic inbreeding coefficient directly reflects the probability that hereditary characteristics are present in a homozygous state due to inbreeding. This applies both to hereditary traits for desirable performance parameters and breed-specific traits, as well as to the inheritance of deleterious, recessive predispositions. The higher the GIK value, the greater the inbreeding and the higher the probability that rare harmful, recessive hereditary defects will also come together in a homozygous state and have an effect. The GIK value itself provides an indication of the relationship between the parents of the animal being analysed, provided that these parents were not themselves the result of inbreeding.
Examples:
| GIC of investigated animal: | 12,5% | 25% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relatedness of parents of investigated animal: | like a Half siblings mating | like a Full siblings mating like a Parent - child mating |
Purebred dogs consistently have population average GIC values of around 20%. Individual breeds can also be far higher in their average GIC.
These values show that the individual breeds have been established through inbreeding and then the breed-typical characteristics have been continuously consolidated through continued more or less intense inbreeding.
GIC and genomic Heterozygosity
Both the genomic inbreeding coefficient and genomic heterozygosity are building components for assessing genetic diversity and health, butprovide different information that complement each other and each offer their own advantages.
The value of heterozygosity shows the general genetic diversity of the analysed individual, but does not explicitly measure its degree of inbreeding and thus its risk of harmful recessive alleles taking effect.
The GIK together with the ROH profiles is the basis for the development of breeding strategies to prevent inbreeding in defined mating or to reduce it in a population with already existing threatening levels of inbreeding.