Genomic selection

A form of large-scale marker-assisted selection where high-density genotyping information is combined with phenotype information to assign a "genomic estimated breeding value" of lines in a population.

• Early populations are phenotyped and genotyped and used as predictors of later populations which don't need to be phenotyped
• More effective for complex polygenic traits than MAS, which can only target a few large-effect genes
• Simultaneously estimates all locus, haplotype and marker effects across the whole genome
• Takes advantage of the decreasing costs of genotyping
• Used widely in livestock breeding

For a good review see Heffner et al. (2009) Crop Science 49: 1-12