Animal genomics : towards a Genopole cluster

In the Limousin there is an “animal genomics” skills cluster which has developed naturally from the region's agricultural and industrial heritage. It is a cluster which brings together public and private research, university courses and biotechnology companies.

In the context of intense international competition, finding improved applications for genetic diversity and the opportunities to regulate the expression of these genes constitute a major farming challenge.

Recent breakthrough in the field of genomics, and more generally in biotechnology, have opened up new opportunities to improve our mastery of the major physiological aspects of animal health and wellbeing. Genomics are fuelling an exponential increase in the applications of biology.

In the Limousin region, INRA (the French National Institute for Agricultural Research) back research by the University of Limoges into the analysis and structure of the bovine genome: Jouy-en-Josas and Limoges have as a result become the two main French centres for bovine genomics.