Major challenges for Science and society

CRB-Anim's scientific strategy is divided into two main areas

 - Genetic diversity : preservation, characterization and management of domestic breeds

 - Remarkable biological models and phenotypes for fondamental research and medical applications

This research requires access to characterized biological samples and cryopreservation tools for biological resources.

CRB-Anim's orientations respond to two major challenges for science and society

•     the erosion of biodiversity, particularly in breeding species subject to intensive selection
•     the rise of genomics, which opens a new era in understanding the relationship between phenotype and genotype and enhancing the phenotypic richness resulting from animal domestication

Contribute to the maintenance of domestic animal biodiversity.

•     Save a population at risk (contagious disease, health risk,...).
•     Conserve animals representative of a population at a given time, extreme phenotypes, original genotypes of genetic, scientific and heritage interest.
•     Preserve genetic diversity, especially in breeding species subject to intensive selection or severe limitation of the number of available breeding stock.

Characterize this biodiversity

The rise of genomics opens a new era allowing the analysis of samples stored for:

•     Identify genes controlling particular phenotypes from reference DNA samples stored by the CRB-Anim.
•     Analyze the functioning of the genome, using cryopreserved cells or tissues.
•     Understand the relationships between phenotype and genotype and thus better value the phenotypic richness resulting from the domestication of animals.
•     Identify and decipher genetic diseases in animals
•     In particular dogs, in order to propose new biomedical models to improve both animal and human health.

Advancing research

In genetics, molecular biology, reproductive physiology and biotechnology, biobanking technologies... and life sciences in general.
Research on biodiversity and genetic diseases of domestic animals must be able to access characterised biological samples and have access to efficient tools for cryopreservation of biological resources.

Make the stored samples available to users

The main beneficiaries are farmers, who are the main suppliers of samples. CRB-Anim is also open to all actors in animal breeding and selection, the national and international scientific community and all citizens.

And support the breeding of today and tomorrow

The stored samples can be used to reconstitute a population that has disappeared as a result of a health disaster, for example, from semen or embryos from ancient animals, or to reintroduce diversity into breeding populations and thus:

•     Evaluate the genetic progress achieved in current populations compared to older generations.
•     Mitigate the adverse consequences of situational selection choices that have significantly reduced the genetic diversity of selected breeds and increased the incidence of genetic abnormalities.
•     Revitalize a small breed and reduce inbreeding by re-using old breeders, not very related to current breeders.
•     Reinject specific skills to meet new needs (resistance to pathogens or parasites, adaptation or tolerance to climatic phenomena, genes related to product quality, etc.)